First Advent Series
Wednesday
December 24th, 2025
Who is coming?
How does He come?
Why does He come?
Where does He come?
Who does he come for?
Humanity - Today
The Jews - Dec 28
The Gentiles - Jan 4
Read Luke 2:8-20
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (NKJV)
Prayer
From the beginning of the nation of Israel, senior leaders were considered shepherds.
Numbers 27:16-17 "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, "who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd." (NKJV)
God Himself is the Shepherd of Israel.
Psalm 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! (NKJV)
A Davidic, Messianic Prophecy of the Shepherd
Ezekiel 37:23-24 "They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. (NKJV)
Matthew interprets Micah 5:2 as referring to the Shepherd of Israel.
Matthew 2:6 `But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" (NKJV)
Jesus identified Himself as the Shepherd. He quotes Zechariah 13:7, in which the LORD speaks of ‘My Shepherd’.
Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:`I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' (NKJV)
The Good Shepherd
John 10:14-18 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (NKJV)
The Great Shepherd
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)
The Chief Shepherd
1 Peter 5:2-4 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (NKJV)
Shepherd - Greek: ποιμήν - Latin: pastor - English: pastor
Overseer - Greek: ἐπίσκοπος - Latin: episcopus - English: bishop (overseer, supervisor, or guardian)
Shepherd of Souls
1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (NKJV)
The Lamb is The Shepherd
Revelation 7:16-17 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (NKJV)
Light of the World
The world needs a Shepherd.
Lord from Heaven
The Shepherd has always led us.
Lamb of God
The Shepherd is The Lamb.
Lion of Judah
The Shepherd is The King.
SURE
This Christmas, celebrate the Shepherd of Souls.
UNSURE
The Shepherd is The One you need.