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Dec 17, 2022 18:00pm

The Shepherds

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My 3-year-old granddaughter loves to play with the small, inexpensive Nativity scene I display each year. I encourage her because it gives ample opportunity to share with her the story of how “God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten Son.” She is fascinated with the babe in the manger, Mary, Joseph, the angel, lambs, and wise men.

However, something is missing from my nativity set: the shepherds. I’m not sure why – the wise men were not there that first night, so why they are included, and the shepherds left out, is perplexing.

The shepherds are an important part of the story.

I like to try and imagine the scene where the angel of the Lord appears to them. They are out in the field, watching over their flock. It’s dark when, without warning, the glory of the Lord encompasses them. Fearful, amazed, and in awe they listen to the proclamation that a Savior is born. When the angel told them exactly where the Promised One would be they left in haste to see for themselves.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:17-20

Wouldn’t you have loved to witness this event? Here we find lowly shepherds, men of humble degree with meager reputations, and yet, God chooses to announce through them the birth of His Son Jesus. God’s gift to mankind was first given to the shepherds in the field. I stand amazed and with thanksgiving when I think how God chooses the low, despised, and insignificant things here on earth for His glory.
When I think about what my Creator has done for me, it overwhelms me with humility, and, at the same time, I’m filled with joy unspeakable.

C.S. Lewis penned this thought in his book Prince Caspian. He wrote, “You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve, And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth.”

I serve a God who must be approached in humility yet gives me the ability to boldly approach His heavenly throne. Had it not been for the babe in the manger who became the perfect Lamb of God, died on a cross, defeated death, and then rose again, all hope would be lost.

As we celebrate this Christmas season and dwell on what God did for us, may we all be as humble as the shepherds. But let’s not forget what happened to them after their encounter with the Savior of the world.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. (Luke 2:17)

The humble shepherds became bold witnesses! I must ask myself, who have I shared the good news with this season? It is easy to buy presents to give away, but what about giving the gift that all these presents represent? We celebrate Christmas to remind us of Christ’s birth and we give gifts to remind us of God’s great gift. My desire is that I will be like the shepherds who returned glorifying and praising God and that I will make the good news known abroad — for this is the greatest gift we can give to a lost and dying world.