Shepherds Hear About Jesus
8 ·That night [L At night], some shepherds were [living out] in the fields ·nearby [L in that region/place] watching their ·sheep [L flock]. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord ·was shining around[surrounded] them, and they became very frightened. 10 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. [L …for/because] I am bringing you good news that will ·be a [or bring] great joy to all the people. 11 Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is ·Christ [the Messiah], the Lord. Luke 2:8-11 EXB
God came to the shepherds. Do you notice they were living out in the fields? This wasn’t a part-time job. They lived out in the fields. Far away from the rest of humanity, keeping the smell and grime at a reasonable distance. Isn’t that interesting? They remove themselves from the people. And who does God choose to announce His Son’s birth?
God didn’t mind the smell. Or the noises. He brought the noises and the lights and the glory to them. He decided to rock their world. This story, we’ve become so accustomed to it, should explode our minds every time we read it. We formulate opinions about people, status, symbols, positions and God just blew through them. He went and shared His great news with shepherds.
We are His messengers. God shared showed us how to share. He didn’t look on the outside. He didn’t care where they rested their heads. He shared the news as if it were the greatest gift ever given or told (it was and is). The day had finally come. His Son was on the earth. He was so very proud.
We should be so proud. We hold in our hands the story. The greatest story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CojUP5nRidA
That is what Christmas is all about. That is the story that needs to be shared. I’m not a very good gift giver. In fact, I really do not have that “gift”. I’ll be honest. I recognize though the greatest gift. And we won’t find it wrapped under any tree this Christmas. No, He’s alive. The grave could not hold Him. Death was could not defeat Him.
So, as I pack up my kids this morning and head to my Mom’s to make cookies, I am thankful. Thankful for the Gospel writers who gave us the story. We can imagine the story, piece it together, what happened on that most glorious night when the Messiah came to earth. Everything changed.
Comment
I agree that this story should affect us when we read it. I love that the Lord chose to tell the shepherds first. Not the royals in the palace, not the priests up in Jerusalem, but the commoners out in the fields. And I love the irony in that Jesus would be called our shepherd one day. . .and did these shepherds know Micah’s prophecy that the Messiah would shepherd His people Israel? How affirming would that have been to them? But it would have been a lot to grasp in one night. . . Yes, everything changed! So thankful it did.