Why the Shepherds?

Luke 2:8–15

I wonder, why the shepherds?  Why were the shepherds the audience for God’s heavenly birth announcement?  Why were they the first recorded visitors of the baby Jesus?  Shepherds occupied one of the lowest rungs on the ladder of Jewish society when Jesus was born.  Most were not well educated, not well spoken, and in many cases, not well spoken of.  


Why not the priests, or scholars, or even the leading businessmen of Jerusalem?  These people would have been almost everything that the shepherds were not.  Wouldn’t they have been a more fitting audience for the angel’s message?  Wouldn’t they have been more appropriate visitors of the new born king?  Why the shepherds?


I wonder if God wanted to make a special invitation to a group of people leading simple lives and capable of a simple faith.  People who took time to witness the beauty and majesty of His creation every day (and night!).  People who weren’t consumed by a sports team or the latest news delivered by the latest technology from the capital city of Jerusalem.  People who weren’t blinded by so called “success”.  I wonder if that is at least partly why God made a special announcement to the shepherds.   

As we celebrate Christmas it seems good to wonder, why the shepherds?  It seems good to think about their lives and make some comparisons to our own.  It seems good to examine our faith and think about the One we celebrate on Christmas day – and every day.

Dear God, thank you for extending a special invitation to each of us to know and be known by your Son.  Thank you for loving us just like the shepherds, as we are and where we are.  Thank you for Christmas. Thank you for the shepherds.  Thank you for Jesus!

Spotlight on the Baby

“Listen to me, my people;
hear me, my nation:
Instruction will go out from me;
my justice will become a light to the nations.

My righteousness draws near speedily,
my salvation is on the way,
and my arm will bring justice to the nations.(Isaiah 51:4-5)

God used His prophet, Isaiah, to spread hope, to tell the people to 'listen,' Isaiah has been told by God, things He wants the people to hear. Things like: justice will become a light to the nations, righteousness draws near, salvation is on the way. These are encouraging words for a suffering people to hear.

Waiting for a Messiah to appear is not easy, especially when you have heard of this promise all your life and don't really understand what it is all about. Then, one day, you see for yourself. All the waiting and anticipation is over. The Star shines above, the shepherds follow the light and are rewarded when they find the baby, the light to the nations, the righteousness and the longed-for Savior.

Fast forward a couple thousand years. Imagine you are a shepherd and you have just seen the bright star shining above. Light has covered your once dark world. Things look different. Your life is new and laid out before you are opportunities to embrace; a Savior to follow. 

Do you remember when you first basked in the light of your Savior? Do you recall how everything changed when you first encountered the baby Jesus, when you saw Him for the first time? Tell about that blessed moment. Comment below or email here.

Isaiah 51:4-16

The Angel's Song

Read  Luke 2:8-20

It’s Christmas Eve! The anticipation of Christmas is at its height! Tonight, we will join together at church in praise and celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Some of my favorite parts of the Christmas Eve service are the songs. When I sit at the front of the sanctuary, the whole church seems bursting with song behind me. Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World and the many others we know by heart are sung with joy and enthusiasm. Can you even imagine this in comparison to the angels singing in response to the birth of Jesus?

The shepherds were a witness to this song and the incredible news of the Messiah’s birth. They could tell it was a big deal! They then hurried to the village to see what had happened and they knew what the angel told them was true. Upon returning to their flocks, they too were glorifying and praising God. I imagine they were in complete and utter awe at what they had seen and heard.

Let us do the same today to the good news of Jesus’ birth. Let us be so in awe and wonder at this gift, that we are moved to abandoned, unrestrained praise.

QUESTIONS:

1. How does this scripture stir your heart to worship?

2. How do you respond to the news of Jesus’ birth? How can it be more like the angel's response?

PRAYER:

Lord, I ask You to give me eyes to see You in fresh ways this Christmas and worship You through my words, actions and singing.

Kirsten Svendsen

Seek the Lost

December 11

Scripture Reading
Read Ezekiel 34:11-16 and reflect on the passage.

The story of the first Christmas is like a cozy blanket, warm and familiar, bringing smiles to our faces whenever we hear it. If prompted, some of us could even do our best Linus impression and start reciting, “Some shepherds were watching over their flocks at night…” Shepherds and Christmas pretty much go hand-in-hand.

I’m thankful for this passage in Ezekiel this Christmas season because it reminds me that God will always seek me out. Especially at Christmas, it can be easy to feel lost in the hubbub of shopping, choir concerts, and family gatherings. Or maybe it is hard to find joy this season because things are not how they used to be. No matter how lost we may feel, we will never be too lost for God to stop seeking us. No matter how weary we may feel, God will never stop strengthening our souls.

Take comfort in Him, dear friends, because He is holding so tightly to you. What a thrill it is to be sought by the Good Shepherd.

Questions

1. What is threatening to pull me astray from the true focus of this Advent season?

2. How can I find daily rest in the comfort of my Shepherd?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for seeking me. Open my eyes to those who are feeling lost, and make me a light that guides them toward You.
                                                                                                                                    Alissa Heveron

Luke 2:1-20 The Birth of the Son of God

Luke 2: 1-20 -- The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

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. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Read Luke 2:1-20 here

Listen to Luke 2:1-20 here

Psalm 72:10; Matthew 2:1,11

When my first grandchild was born, many wanted to come and visit, to hold him and coo over the long awaited precious bundle.  They wanted to bring gifts and bless the family with love.  Just think, if this is how we feel when someone close to us has a child, how much greater would it have been for those who knew that The King of Salvation was born. 

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:  Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. (Luke 2:13-14)

  

Even without the benefit of email, Facebook or Twitter, word spread quickly and to distant lands as well.  Jesus' birth was proclaimed by an Angel.  Shepherds, witnessing the angel, went to Bethlehem to see what was going on.  They when they left they spread the word too.  Perhaps these lowly shepherds can be considered among the first evangelism team.

While it is never easy, Christmas must be one of the easier times of year to tell the Good News.  People, whether Believers or not, acknowledge Christmas as a special time.  Many people will attend church on this holiday when they might not any other day.  What an opportunity to show off the new baby; to tell everyone His name and to share just a little bit of family history.  

"They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh." (Matthew 2:11 MSG)

Read the texts here.