SHEPHERDS HERALD THE GOOD SHEPHERD’S ARRIVAL
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 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 they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:15-20 (BSB)
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
John 10:11 (BSB)
An angel appeared to a group of mere shepherds and made the astonishing announcement that the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem. He gave them the even more surprising news that this Holy Baby would be found sleeping in a feeding trough for animals! Then as quickly as the host of angels had appeared in glorious light, they vanished, and the shepherds were once again alone in the dark. The shepherds, like excited children on Christmas morning, ran to see God’s gift to the world. They found everything exactly like the angel had said. Afterward, they did the same thing we did as children—they told the entire neighborhood about the best gift they had received—a baby born to be the Messiah. They reluctantly went back to the drudgery of guarding their sheep but with a newfound awe of the Lord. They praised and glorified God as they returned. We wonder if the sheep could sense the change in their shepherds or if even they were aware that the best Shepherd of all was now living among men? Just as we share about our “best Christmas ever,” we are certain those shepherds passed down the story of the night they found their Savior lying in a manger. We imagine their children and grandchildren, eyes bright with wonder, saying, “Tell it again! Tell about the angels and the Baby!” May the wide-eyed wonder of the Christmas story fill our hearts throughout the Year! May the Spirit of Christmas, the celebration of God’s perfect Gift, permeate our lives every day! And may we, like the shepherds, share the Good News everywhere we go about the Savior born in Bethlehem!
Father, let us see once again with wide-eyed wonder the Baby in the manger who was born to die in our place. May the miracle of the virgin birth and even more-so, the miracle of the resurrection constantly fill us with joy! And may we, like the shepherds long ago, proclaim the Messiah to everyone we meet and give the gift of true hope this Christmas!
Listen to the shepherds. “Gloria” by the Gaither Vocal Band: