Hi
The Shepherds were out in their fields by night and suddenly an Angel appears, the Glory of God shines around them. What were they feeling, Luke puts it in perspective for us “They were terrified” I think I would have been too! One of the themes of Luke is the upside-down nature of the Life and Ministry of Jesus, we see him not born in a royal palace, but in the squalor of a barn, and we see the announcement of his birth not to a royal household or the court of a king but to lowly shepherds outcasts in Jewish society, ceremonially unclean because of their work with animals. The rest of the Gospel reflects this theme, the rich are poor, the poor are rich. Jesus selects a motley crew to be his disciples, he ministers to gentiles, women, prostitutes, the lame, the sick…
Luke 2 vs. 8-14 – The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Could you imagine if you were sitting in the middle of a field, and an angel appeared in your sight!
God does the unexpected shepherds were ceremonially unclean so for angel to appear to them logic defied
Logic would say that the Angel would have appeared to someone important, perhaps a high priest
Luke’s gospel turns logic upside down, the priests were seen as rich, refined, the shepherds poor and unrefined
As we see in Luke 4 v18 Jesus came to preach good news to the poor, to save and help the weakest
The shepherds were the least likely choice for the good news to be announced, like them I would be terrified
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
The angel endeavoured to calm their fear I wonder if it worked, or if the shepherds were less than calm people?
The message the angel brought was one of hope and specific about the birth of Christ the Lord
Stating where he had been born, his name, and gave a sign for them to believe, to them help and enable
Often we seek clarity, a sign, yet do we read God’s word or listen to him so we can speak his word?
Can we like the Wise Men have the faith to follow a star, and trust that we will be led to a humble stable?
God is a God of his word; many prophecies in Isaiah, Malachi were fulfilled with the birth of Christ the Lord
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
The Shepherds must have wondered what next; things were getting stranger and stranger
I imagined they were open-mouthed, eyes wide, a host around them every angle
The Glory of God surrounding a blinding whiteness but yet the shepherds were in no danger
Despite the speed of events they needed to believe the words of the angel
Praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.”
Those that are his, need not fear, even if they are the lowest
In the eyes of men, in God’s eyes they are of him blest
They can stand in his midst without fear for he them knowest
This Christmas worship Christ the Lord on you his favour rests
Mark Maffey, December 2008
(NIV)