(So sorry. I thought I had sent this last Thursday.)
Talk about a redo. The shepherds went from “nobodies” to reporters of the greatest event ever!
The shepherds in the area of Bethlehem were important because they supplied the Temple priest in Jerusalem with a good many unblemished sheep for the sin offerings. In fact, one of the twelve gates into Jerusalem was named The Sheep Gate because that’s the gate the shepherds used to bring their sheep into the Temple.
Valuable as the sheep were, the shepherds themselves did not enjoy the same prestige. Their many days on the hillside with sheep made them pretty dirty and smelly. They did not enjoy great wealth, so some were accused of being thieves. Shepherds were not even allowed to testify in a court of law.
We’re talking lowly.
What an amazing night when their evening rest on the hillside was interrupted by a burst of light and an angelic messenger. They had never had such an experience and were obviously terrified. As always, the angel had to give assurance.
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” Luke 2:10
Wow, good news, great joy, for all people. “Even us?” they may have thought. The angel went on,
“Today in the town of David [that would be Bethlehem] a Savior has been born to you . . .” Luke 2:11a
Now these weren’t learned men. They hadn’t had yeshiva classes where they studied the ancient Scriptures, but their fathers likely taught them some of the basic stories of the Bible. “Savior” might not have clicked with them. But when the angel said,
. . . he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11b
They knew immediately that this was the promised one, the Messiah. Then the angel gave them two hints as to where they might find this newborn baby.
“You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12
They knew immediately that the baby would be found in one of the sheep stables since the angel mentioned a manger, a feeding trough for the animals. And swaddling clothes is what they always used to wrap up newborn lambs.
As if that weren’t enough excitement, the light from the angel was intensified and broadened a million times over when the angel was joined by myriad of other angels of the heavenly host.
The angels were praising God and giving glory to God. Their shepherd eyes must have been wide as donkey hooves as the tried to take in this majestic scene.
After the angels left and all was silent and dark again, their hearts must have been soaring. Their next impulse was to jump up and run down the hillside to find the baby in a manger.
What a redo this was in their night, in their lives, and in their message to all who would listen.
May we follow their leading by sharing the pure joyful message of Christmas.
~ Joyce ~