“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!’” Luke 2:8-11
Being a shepherd was about as low as it got. They had to spend many nights away from their families, which was highly dishonorable. There was no particular skill necessary, unlike a tanner, carpenter, or butcher. Yet King David had served honorably as a shepherd boy, and it was just outside the City of David that these shepherds were chatting and watching their sheep to make sure they didn’t wander off or get carried off by thieves or wolves.
Can you imagine that night? No city lights to illumine the sky. Complete darkness suddenly lit up brighter than Herald Square on Broadway. A few of these guys probably fainted! But the angel tried to calm them before announcing the birth of the Messiah and Savior. He gave them instructions to head into town and see this once-in-forever event.
Think of the array of possibilities God had before Him in announcing the Christ-child. He could have announced it to Caesar Augustus, the most powerful and wealthy person on the planet, or King Herod, the most powerful and wealthy person in the region, or the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews), the most powerful and wealthy of the religious world. But who did our sovereign God choose to announce this to? Lowly shepherds. Such a high honor to such a low class of folk.
Yet—this is the very nature of the gospel: the high and empowered (God) reaching down to the low and powerless (us).
This Christmas, rejoice that God’s Good News has come to the lowly and powerless--to YOU!
God, thank You for announcing Your Good News to me and granting me the faith to believe. Amen
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