Our Journey Continues….

Part 2 The First Birth Announcement

The birth of Christ was the beginning of God’s salvation plan for us…..but what I find fascinating is that in all the Gospels, the majority of the writing of those life changing events was not about Jesus Himself, but about the shepherds in the field.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them;  and they were terribly frightened.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.  And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.  The shepherd’s went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Luke 2:8-20

Christ’s coming had been prophesied throughout the Old Testament, but on the evening of His birth, it was another group of people who were there to begin spreading Christ’s arrival throughout the land.

Imagine standing in that field that night….just another night of watching your sheep….another night of no sleep….But on this night, from out of nowhere a visitor appears.  Not just a passerby, but an angel of the Lord.  Luke says the shepherds were frightened….and I can imagine why.  Because these angels aren’t your cute little Hallmark angels….but God’s warriors.  The sight of these beings would make anyone drop to their knees.

But the angel told them not to be afraid, that this was a time for joy.  For Christ was born, and they were the first to know….and were told to go spread the news.  They received the first birth announcement of our Savior.  But why?  Why these shepherds in the field that night, and not the Jewish Priests?  Or Why not King Herod?  No royalty visited Jesus in his crib, just some lowly, stinky, working class shepherds.

As I’ve been thinking about this series I’m writing around Christmas I had a theory on why the shepherds were the ones told.  I could be way off base, and there are much greater men of theology out there than me…..but I wonder……

Jesus Himself is our shepherd.  We are all his flock…..he keeps of from danger, He provides for us, He walks with us daily.  We have a dependence on Him, like those sheep had to their shepherd.  And not only that, but Jesus was the lamb of the Old Testament.

I don’t believe it was pure coincidence that they were the ones the angels came to that night.  I believe these men would have understood more than anyone else the significance of what had taken place…..that a new Shepherd had been born.

I still can’t imagine how they felt or what was going through their minds, when on a cool night, in the middle of a field, all alone, a group of heavenly hosts came down, started praising and glorifying God…..on their land…..What a sight to behold.

These shepherds were special….they didn’t just receive the word…..and go on with their evening.   They found baby Jesus…..they praised Him…..and they spread the good news throughout the land.  They did as they were told…..the first true Christ followers.  I think we can learn so much from these lowly shepherds.

We are never too “lowly” for God to come to us with good news.  We should all expect it, because on that night, God built the bridge….God established the road for us to have a relationship with Him……not through the laws and not through the priests, but through Jesus Christ.

And like those shepherds…..we should be running through the streets telling one and all what we have heard…..what we have seen…..what we have found.  So during this holiday season……I pray we don’t all get caught up in our own daily lives…..but to get caught up in the lives of others……to do what those shepherds did on that cool night so long ago…..and spread the “Good News!!!”