Jesus The Messiah

Bible Passage: Luke 2:8-20

I. Luke 2:8-20 is the fulfillment of two OT passages: Gen 35:21 and Micah 4:8 (4:6-5:1)

1. Gen 35:21 Then Israel [Jacob] traveled on and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder
2. Targum Jerusalem on Gen 21. Jacob journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the Tower of the Flock (Migdal Eder), the place from which the King Messiah will reveal himself at the end of days
3. Micah 4:8 As for you, watchtower for the flock (Migdal Eder), fortress of Daughter Zion—your former dominion will be restored
4. Mishna “Sheqalim 7:4: Cattle found between Jerusalem and Migdal Eder— and in an equivalent range on all sides of the city—[if] male, they are deemed to be burnt offerings; [if] female, they are deemed to be peace offerings.

II. In these two verses and other two Jewish religious literature, the term “Migdal Eder” is mentioned

1. “Migdal Eder” is translated as “Watch Tower”—name of a place
2. It is a place between Bethlehem and Hebron, which is now called “the Shepherds’ Field”—a messianically significant place
3. The animals reared in this place were used for sacrifice purposes of the Temple
4. The shepherds who are mentioned in verse 8 are not ordinary, poor, sinful shepherds like a lot of people teach, but
5. They most likely were well educated in their Scripture and were appointed to take care of the animals for the Temple—one of the sections of the Levites
6. “Migdal Eder” is the place from where the Messiah, the Son of David was going to come from (cf. Gen 35:21, Micah 4:8)
7. They were able to recognize “the Angel of the Lord” and were able to understand the angel’s message

III. The essence of the Angel’s message in light of Gen 35:21 and Micah 4:6-5:1

1. Jesus is the Saviour, who is the Christ, the Lord—a special deliverer
2. At the birth of Jesus, there begins a hope for “peace” between God and man—healing from estrangement caused by sin
3. With Jesus’ birth, much awaited waiting is over, and God has begun the restoration of His people (cf. Micah 4:6-7)

a. Assembling of the lame and outcast
b. Formation of a nation
c. The pain that they were going through presently is short-lived
d. Their enemies will be destroyed

IV. The shepherds responded to the message of the Angel by coming to Jesus and announcing about it to others (verse 17)

Take Away

Renew your hope of God intervening in your life-situations