Luke 2:8-20
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 And so 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;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17 When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
The Angel and the Shepherds
The angel who brought the news of joy
The first words the angel delivered were, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people” (v 10). The natural response to seeing the glory of God is fear. But the angel speaks to them, saying there is no need to fear, and declares that the Messiah has come for the people of Israel. At that time, the sheep offered at the temple were raised between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Therefore, it is highly likely that these shepherds were tending the sheep used for temple sacrifices. Because of their occupation, they were unable to strictly observe the Law like the Pharisees. For that reason, they were looked down upon by the religious hierarchy. They were also regarded as prone to theft and were not permitted to give testimony in court. Why was the news of the Messiah’s birth delivered first to them? The principle, “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7), applies here as well. Could it be that God saw the hearts of the shepherds? Are you the type who is preoccupied with outward appearances? Or are you the type who seeks to please the God who sees the heart? Today, let us ask God to search our hearts.
The shepherds who responded
The angel gave the shepherds a sign. That night, there must have been several babies in Bethlehem. However, there was only one baby who was “wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” As soon as that news was delivered to the shepherds, a multitude of the heavenly army appeared and began praising God. The central theme of that praise was “peace.” For the Israelites under the rule of the Roman Empire, peace was something they desired at any cost. But they needed not only political peace, but also spiritual peace. We who live in the modern age also need peace, both in a political sense and in a spiritual sense. The foundation for obtaining peace is the glory of God. Where God is acknowledged as God, peace is realized. The shepherds responded. In the original Greek, it is clear that they were filled with excitement and took immediate action. One cannot remain neutral in response to God’s invitation. The shepherds chose to kneel before the Prince of Peace. Which will you choose?
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, please search my heart. Today, I make the same choice as the shepherds who chose to worship Your Son Jesus. Jesus is my Savior. Please lead me to walk a life of serving the Lord Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.