Luke 2:8-20
Verse 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
There were many people in the town of Bethlehem during the census. There were those who were descendants of King David, like Joseph and Mary and some were the full-time residents of Bethlehem. There were distant relatives of the couple and people they had never met. In a town that was bursting at the seams there was only one group of people whom God had decided to announce the birth of His Messiah.
Shepherds were not the most glamorous group of people. They weren’t looked on with much respect as they ranked about the same level as thieves. They smelled and may have been awkward. They were used to dealing with sheep and may have struggled with interacting with people. They had different working hours than the average person and so slept when others were being productive. That may have led some to think less of them as if they were lazy since most didn’t know what it was like to put in long hours in the dark.
These men, who were rough around the edges, were the very ones who God decided needed to be the first to know about the Messiah being born. He also chose to announce the birth in a way that may have seemed over the top had it been for any other newborn. What a gift God was giving these working men, a visit from a heavenly being. But God didn’t think the angel visit was enough.
The angel didn’t just bring a birth announcement to these guardians of the sheep. The announcement came with an invitation to see the child who had been born. These men of lowly status were being invited into the birth room of the tiny king. Not only that they were then visited by a host of the heavenly beings with an opportunity to get a small sampling of the praise of heaven.
After getting to meet the baby King, God did one more amazing thing for the shepherds. He allowed them to be the first witnesses to the birth of the Messiah as they went around town telling everyone. God had gifted these outcasts in so many ways. Shining a bright light on those others would ignore.
Making It Personal
How did the Lord make Jesus known to you? What have you done with the knowledge of who He is? Is there someone you need to tell about Him today?
Making It Personal Kids
How did you get to know who Jesus is? Have you told others what you know about Jesus? Who should you tell today?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for allowing even the least among us to know who Jesus is. Give us the joy in Him that causes us to tell all we know about who He is and what He has done. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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