The Shepherds
Scripture: Luke 2:8-18 (ESV) And in the same region
there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of
the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were filled with great fear. 10 And
the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great
joy that will be for all the people. 11 For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. 12 And this
will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and
lying in a manger.” 13 And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God
and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and
on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels
went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go
over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made
known to us.” 16 And
they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw
it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it
wondered at what the shepherds told them.
Devotion:
We continue in Luke chapter 2 with
the story of the shepherds. Now shepherds were considered unclean by the Jewish
people. As a group they had a very poor reputation. The angels appearance to
them was a sign that this baby, Jesus, was going to declare the good news to
those who were traditionally marginalized and looked down upon in society.
The angel of the Lord elicits fear
among the shepherds. Angels in the Bible often did put fear into the hearts of
those who witnessed their appearances. Thus, the angels first words to these
shepherds was “fear not”. The angel then proceeds to tell these most unlikely
people the good news. The savior of all the world has been born in Bethlehem.
He is lying in a manger in barn. A most unlikely birthplace for the Christ. Suddenly
there was with the solitary angel, the whole host of heaven praising God and
proclaiming glory to God and peace to the population of earth.
The stunning announcement affected
the shepherds. They decided that they must go and search for this child. They
couldn’t wait to see the Christ child that had been announced to them by the angels.
So, they went to Bethlehem to see this child. Imagine the savior of the world
has just been born and the first visitors are a bunch of dirty, smelly shepherds.
And even more amazing to Mary and Joseph was the story that these unlikely
evangelists had to tell. A story of a host of angels and the message given to
them. How strange would their message have seemed. How strange it still seems
to us today.
Prayer:
Glory to God and peace and joy to
the world. The Lord has come. Come in the form or a helpless baby born in a
barn sleeping in a manger borrowed from the barn animals. Shepherds, of all
people, bringing praises and good news of great joy to the Mary and Joseph.
Lord we cannot understand your ways. But we are thankful for the gift you have
given us in Jesus Christ. As we finish preparing to celebrate the birth of the
Christ child may we be declaring with our words and deeds your love for all humankind.
May our praises ring out loud and clear this Christmas season. Amen.
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