The other day my husband pulled out all the Christmas decorations from our garage. We managed to get our tree up (not decorated), but there are still boxes piled up in our entryway. The boxes to unpack on my priority list will be our mangers. I have done this ever since our kids were at home and now I want our grandchildren to have this memory. I can’t imagine gazing on the beauty of the season without the manger! The simplicity and yet the enormity of that scene. The Savior of all mankind breathing out his pure little baby’s breath and the few who were there at His birth settles my heart in gratitude every Christmas. When I unwrap the shepherds I’m reminded how God chose to give the birth announcement of His Son to the shepherds first of all people.
Shepherding was one of the lowest occupations in society in biblical times. They were outcasts! Shepherds were neither wanted in the city nor trusted by the general public.
So why the Shepherds? Why would God choose this crucial turning point in the history of all mankind to unveil this marvel to them? Why did He entrust this moment for which all of humanity was meant to be forever changed to blue collar men who’s language was rough and lifestyle even rougher? What was it that our Lord knew about these men who tended sheep, and what they would do with God’s revelation?
The gospel of Luke tells us that the Shepherds witnessed a dazzling display of God’s glory! They were awestruck, speechless and even frightened. But God didn’t stop there, the angel of the Lord gave the first proclamation of the gospel to the weary and unworthy (in the eyes of man).
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.” (Luke 2:10-11) These men were not priests or prophets who may have had some prior Old Testament knowledge about Jesus. They may have had little to no knowledge at all. One can only speculate. What we do see is their reaction to this whole heart pounding- hope igniting moment.
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 they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger (Luke 2:15-16).
They hurried to find their way to Jesus! They were humble enough to run to Him as the source of their salvation and bold enough to share with others. They went back glorifying and praising God. They couldn’t respectably keep Him to themselves they had to tell everyone about God’s indescribable gift.
Why the shepherds? There you have it. Our Lord give me the shepherds humility to run to you with abandon and the audacity to make you known.