Shepherds Out in the Field

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:8-20 ESV). Though the citizens of Bethlehem, including, apparently, Joseph’s relatives didn’t think enough of Jesus to do him honor at his birth or even to give the family a decent place to stay, there were those who acknowledged his true worth. Some knew from the start who he really was. In ancient society shepherds were outcasts, but God chose to send heavenly messengers to lowly shepherds in the hills outside Bethlehem with the astounding news of the Lord’s birth. Maybe he knew that they just might be unsophisticated enough to believe it. I love the proclamation of the angel: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. There is no ambiguity about this proclamation. This was no ordinary child born to ordinary people in an ordinary time. This child was the Savior! It shouldn’t surprise us that these common men, watching their flock at night, left everything to go and see this wonder. So, the shepherds decided to head into Bethlehem and check out this rather fantastic story. And, when they came to town, they saw that it was just as they had been told, sign and all. And so, naturally, they glorified God and told everyone within earshot the incredible news of the Savior’s birth. They certainly were not going to let their routine or schedule keep them from seeing for themselves this incredible miracle. They had been told stories of such a birth at their mother’s knee. They had heard of the coming of Messiah from their earliest religious education. They might have even wondered aloud as they sat in the lonely nights around a campfire with their flock about Messiah. Now they had the chance to see Him! We have that chance today. We see him through the Scripture, the empty tomb, the community of faith; we can see Jesus in our hearts this Christmas. Will you take the time to do so? Don’t let your routine or the busy schedules of life keep you away. Take advantage of every opportunity to worship at the manger of our Savior.