“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
Luke 2:8-16
Jesus’ birth was the most important event since the creation of the world. Yet, the people thought the census was the biggest news of that time. Innkeepers and merchants were filling their money pouches with the travelers’ money. Most people did not know the Son of God had left heaven to become the Son of Man. The Bethlehem news team didn’t report His birth in the 6:00 news. The biggest news of all time was not immediately reported. Yet, we are still talking about it 2,000 years later. I wonder how often I have been oblivious to what God is doing in my time. Secular reporters will not understand the significance of God’s current activity on earth. They won’t capture it for the evening news or the front page of the newspaper. I want to know what God is doing in my day and be positioned to hear God’s news reports.
Isn’t it interesting that God revealed Jesus’ birth to shepherds, not the religious leaders or the king? Shepherds were at the bottom of the social ladder. Their work made them ceremonially unclean. They symbolized ordinary people. David, Jesus’ ancestor, was called from a shepherd’s life as the youngest son. Typically the youngest son in the family was the shepherd. These shepherds probably were not old men with long, gray beards. David also called God his shepherd symbolizing God’s loving care. Additionally, God promised to send a Shepherd to take care of the people (Ezekiel 34:23).
Unlike when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and Zechariah, when this angel appeared to the shepherds, the visible manifestation of the glory of God appeared, too. It shone around the shepherds, not the angel. They were strong men. They defended their sheep from a lion, a bear, or any wild animal. Yet, they were terrified. We also should not take it lightly to read about the glory of God appearing. We forget our God is holy and all-powerful, stronger than any force we have ever seen. These men had a good reason to recognize the inferiority of their own power to the glory before them.
The shepherds did not delay. They did not hesitate or plan their journey properly. They were so excited that they quickly ran to see the baby lying in a manger. Scripture does not record the conversations between the shepherds and Joseph and Mary. However, we know that when they returned home, they spread the word to others; they shared all that they had been told about this child. Although they were common, unclean, and young, their occupation of shepherding was close to God’s heart. They gave praise to God for His activity that they had witnessed.
We see age, societal status, and wealth were not determining factors for the people who received revelation of Jesus’ birth. Clearly, Jesus came for all people. However, we see two contributing factors to God’s selection of people to whom He announced His Son’s birth: God’s sovereignty and being positioned closely to His heart. How do we know that these particular men were close to His heart? We know by their response; they responded with praise and were willing to go where He led.
Pray with me: Dear Heavenly Lord, it is our desire to hear Your news reports. We want to hear because we want to know what’s on Your mind. We want to be as near to You as a human can be. We want to be so close to You that if it’s possible we overhear Your conversations with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the angels. So God help us to live daily with a response of praise and thanksgiving to all You bring. Help us to be willing to go wherever You lead us. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study
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