And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Luke 2:8-9
During a very unexpected time, to the very unlikely people, God declared the Messiah had come. God’s action is unusual, unpredictable, and quite surprising. God moves in the unforeseen. Who would have thought that celestial beings performing lofty functions in the declaration of judgments to nations, announcing prophecies towards selected few, executing the decrees of the Most High appearing to ordinary shepherds is simply unbelievable. When this happened, the shepherds themselves were stunned; wrought in them fear and wonder. God came unexpectedly in the ordinary. And God used everyday folks in the process.
Shepherds in the field
It was an ordinary night, just like every other night, the shepherds watched their sheep in the open field with the only exception that the country was roused by the census ordered by Caesar Augustus. People, far and wide, returned to their cities where they were originally from. Since that morning till dusk droves of people passed them by. It was a tired day in the oppressing sun; barely resting and little nourishment, they attended to their tasks. Now that evening came, it was a comfortable respite under the stars. Nightfall cast a different spell, the wind was cold and consoling almost lulling them. Fire crackled, as sparks en mass travelled upward. Silence was like music to their ears amidst the infrequent bleating of their flocks.
Ordinary night.
Or so they thought. Out of this ordinary night came an extraordinary being, an angel, announcing an extraordinary event. And glory shone around them. Light, so bright, that dimmed the miniature flickers of the stars above. Not only were they surprised, fear gripped them. Everybody lost their voices; they froze from their resting places. Eyes opened, they held their breath anticipating what might come next.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
The announcement baffled the minds of the shepherds. And when we immersed ourselves in the story, when we go in deep and wet ourselves in the waters, we are also astonished; and many questions run in our heads. Swirling eddies of queries. Of all the people present in Bethlehem, or in the entire country, God chose the least of them to reveal Himself. He could have chosen the scholars, well versed in the Holy Scriptures. He could have picked up the Scribes, equally veritable votaries in the details of the Law. He could have selected the royalties for One righteous Monarch is born. But shepherds – whose occupation despised by the educated; often times disdained by the priests and scribes, and who to many contemptuous, a lowly profession, He selected them to grace His birth. God, indeed, chose the humble things to shame the wise. But He also gave us insights in His workings. He was showing us a full representation of Who He is. He didn’t haphazardly pick the shepherds from all the people for just any reasons at all. He had lessons to teach; He was displaying His purpose in coming and His ultimate undertaking.
This was a shadow; a representation of things to come. A way, for them in the past and for us today, to understand and see a glimpse of His mysterious ways. The Lord Jesus heals on Sabbath because He is Lord of the Sabbath. He showed that He was far above the doctrines of man; He came not destroying the Law but fulfilling it. And on the dark realm of the blind man begging on the streets, He gave him sight showing the people that He is the Light of the World. Through this act, He revealed that His Light is the life of man. Many instances in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, He had shown He is Who was coming in the world.
The Great Shepherd
God, in the Old Testament, and in many instances, disclosed and likened Himself as Shepherd of His People Israel. And out from the Judean Hills, God chose the shepherd David to be King of Israel; and from his lineage would come the King Who would reign forever. Not only will He be King but also a Shepherd. God chose the shepherds to hear that glad tidings because He was revealing that He is the Great Shepherd. The anticipated Shepherd mentioned by Isaiah saying, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Jesus Himself declared that He is the good Shepherd and that He gives His life for His sheep. Now the Divine Incarnate came. He came, not only to shepherd His people but also to seek and save the Lost.
Lamb of God
The shepherds were watching their flock that night. And the creatures they were guarding, these sheep were no ordinary sheep; these were animals without any spot or blemish, raised in preparation of the Passover. Reared for a very special occasion to be sacrifice for the atonement of sin, these sheep expressed the very purpose that Jesus came to earth as the Lamb of God. He was born without sin, untainted by Adam’s original transgression. By this, He is the perfect Lamb of God, who gives His life for His sheep. He died not only for sin of the Jews but He died for the sin of the whole world, once and for all. The yearly sacrifice of an animal is no longer needed for God made a way by giving us the fitting and perfect Sacrifice. Jesus Christ was born for this purpose; through His death redemption was paid for us all. What a costly price – His life for the lives of all sinners who believed from the past to the future.
Humble Servant
His birth was lowly; though undeserving for the Mighty Creator, He chose humbly to be born in a manger. In the tumult of that time, Jesus came unheralded, silently, and unassumingly. And among the creatures He created, He was laid close in their feeding trough. The Invisible, Immutable Power that flung the stars in space had now tiny hands and feet. The Word existing in eternity cried. The Eternal Sovereign took His fleshly vessel as Servant and not as King. Not in the royal palaces He preferred be born but to a righteous carpenter from Nazareth and to Mary, His chosen from all the women, in generations past and present, who dreamed of carrying their Messiah in their arms. He stripped off His majesty, took off His deity, and became man. He became a Servant; He should be had been served but He elected to serve. He is, also, the humble, suffering Servant. He is lowly, and humble in heart; close to the destitute and the desperate, whose Person easily felt compassion, touched by pain, moved by grief and warmed by the innocence of children. Ultimately, He died, as criminal on the cross, which would have been our death. He Himself said that He had no place to lay His head, and He was buried in a borrowed tomb. For we know the grave could not keep Him, the plot of wicked men could not deter His plan of salvation, and His resurrection proved that.
The Angel
The message of the angel trumpeted joy for all people in all generations for their deliverance had come. What Abraham had waited and seen by faith had arrived. What the prophets repeatedly proclaimed was born. A new dawn for mankind, now that God had appeared; Immanuel has come. All glory for God was declared by the countless host of heaven.
Our Response
The shepherds celebrated. Innumerable angels praised His arrival. All people in the world, likewise, rejoiced. Glory to God in the Highest. God had planned it. God promised it. God, also, had fulfilled it. God came. Our praises will not come to an end, from now until we see Him in glory. The birth of Christ was only the start of the fulfillment of our salvation. Accomplished His purpose by dying on the cross, and by rising from the dead, He is satisfied all requirements. We are saved for all eternity. All adoration, praises belongs to our God Who reigns forever and ever.
During a very unexpected time, to the very unlikely people, God declared the Messiah had come. God’s action is unusual, unpredictable, and quite surprising. God moves in the unforeseen. Who would have thought that celestial beings performing lofty functions in the declaration of judgments to nations, announcing prophecies towards selected few, executing the decrees of the Most High appearing to ordinary shepherds is simply unbelievable. When this happened, the shepherds themselves were stunned; wrought in them fear and wonder. God came unexpectedly in the ordinary. And God used everyday folks in the process.
Shepherds in the field
It was an ordinary night, just like every other night, the shepherds watched their sheep in the open field with the only exception that the country was roused by the census ordered by Caesar Augustus. People, far and wide, returned to their cities where they were originally from. Since that morning till dusk droves of people passed them by. It was a tired day in the oppressing sun; barely resting and little nourishment, they attended to their tasks. Now that evening came, it was a comfortable respite under the stars. Nightfall cast a different spell, the wind was cold and consoling almost lulling them. Fire crackled, as sparks en mass travelled upward. Silence was like music to their ears amidst the infrequent bleating of their flocks.
Ordinary night.
Or so they thought. Out of this ordinary night came an extraordinary being, an angel, announcing an extraordinary event. And glory shone around them. Light, so bright, that dimmed the miniature flickers of the stars above. Not only were they surprised, fear gripped them. Everybody lost their voices; they froze from their resting places. Eyes opened, they held their breath anticipating what might come next.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
The announcement baffled the minds of the shepherds. And when we immersed ourselves in the story, when we go in deep and wet ourselves in the waters, we are also astonished; and many questions run in our heads. Swirling eddies of queries. Of all the people present in Bethlehem, or in the entire country, God chose the least of them to reveal Himself. He could have chosen the scholars, well versed in the Holy Scriptures. He could have picked up the Scribes, equally veritable votaries in the details of the Law. He could have selected the royalties for One righteous Monarch is born. But shepherds – whose occupation despised by the educated; often times disdained by the priests and scribes, and who to many contemptuous, a lowly profession, He selected them to grace His birth. God, indeed, chose the humble things to shame the wise. But He also gave us insights in His workings. He was showing us a full representation of Who He is. He didn’t haphazardly pick the shepherds from all the people for just any reasons at all. He had lessons to teach; He was displaying His purpose in coming and His ultimate undertaking.
This was a shadow; a representation of things to come. A way, for them in the past and for us today, to understand and see a glimpse of His mysterious ways. The Lord Jesus heals on Sabbath because He is Lord of the Sabbath. He showed that He was far above the doctrines of man; He came not destroying the Law but fulfilling it. And on the dark realm of the blind man begging on the streets, He gave him sight showing the people that He is the Light of the World. Through this act, He revealed that His Light is the life of man. Many instances in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, He had shown He is Who was coming in the world.
The Great Shepherd
God, in the Old Testament, and in many instances, disclosed and likened Himself as Shepherd of His People Israel. And out from the Judean Hills, God chose the shepherd David to be King of Israel; and from his lineage would come the King Who would reign forever. Not only will He be King but also a Shepherd. God chose the shepherds to hear that glad tidings because He was revealing that He is the Great Shepherd. The anticipated Shepherd mentioned by Isaiah saying, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Jesus Himself declared that He is the good Shepherd and that He gives His life for His sheep. Now the Divine Incarnate came. He came, not only to shepherd His people but also to seek and save the Lost.
Lamb of God
The shepherds were watching their flock that night. And the creatures they were guarding, these sheep were no ordinary sheep; these were animals without any spot or blemish, raised in preparation of the Passover. Reared for a very special occasion to be sacrifice for the atonement of sin, these sheep expressed the very purpose that Jesus came to earth as the Lamb of God. He was born without sin, untainted by Adam’s original transgression. By this, He is the perfect Lamb of God, who gives His life for His sheep. He died not only for sin of the Jews but He died for the sin of the whole world, once and for all. The yearly sacrifice of an animal is no longer needed for God made a way by giving us the fitting and perfect Sacrifice. Jesus Christ was born for this purpose; through His death redemption was paid for us all. What a costly price – His life for the lives of all sinners who believed from the past to the future.
Humble Servant
His birth was lowly; though undeserving for the Mighty Creator, He chose humbly to be born in a manger. In the tumult of that time, Jesus came unheralded, silently, and unassumingly. And among the creatures He created, He was laid close in their feeding trough. The Invisible, Immutable Power that flung the stars in space had now tiny hands and feet. The Word existing in eternity cried. The Eternal Sovereign took His fleshly vessel as Servant and not as King. Not in the royal palaces He preferred be born but to a righteous carpenter from Nazareth and to Mary, His chosen from all the women, in generations past and present, who dreamed of carrying their Messiah in their arms. He stripped off His majesty, took off His deity, and became man. He became a Servant; He should be had been served but He elected to serve. He is, also, the humble, suffering Servant. He is lowly, and humble in heart; close to the destitute and the desperate, whose Person easily felt compassion, touched by pain, moved by grief and warmed by the innocence of children. Ultimately, He died, as criminal on the cross, which would have been our death. He Himself said that He had no place to lay His head, and He was buried in a borrowed tomb. For we know the grave could not keep Him, the plot of wicked men could not deter His plan of salvation, and His resurrection proved that.
The Angel
The message of the angel trumpeted joy for all people in all generations for their deliverance had come. What Abraham had waited and seen by faith had arrived. What the prophets repeatedly proclaimed was born. A new dawn for mankind, now that God had appeared; Immanuel has come. All glory for God was declared by the countless host of heaven.
Our Response
The shepherds celebrated. Innumerable angels praised His arrival. All people in the world, likewise, rejoiced. Glory to God in the Highest. God had planned it. God promised it. God, also, had fulfilled it. God came. Our praises will not come to an end, from now until we see Him in glory. The birth of Christ was only the start of the fulfillment of our salvation. Accomplished His purpose by dying on the cross, and by rising from the dead, He is satisfied all requirements. We are saved for all eternity. All adoration, praises belongs to our God Who reigns forever and ever.