The First to Know
The First to Know
When our first babies are born we think of who to tell first and it’s usually the most important people to us, our parents, siblings, and best friends. We tell those who will rejoice with us and will get the significance of this moment. God tells the shepherds first. God was telling those who would most likely get that the Lamb of God was born. The shepherds were doing what they were called to do, guarding and protecting their sheep even through the watches of the night. Symbolic of God watching over and protecting us His sheep by sending the one that would bring us the ultimate provision and protection.
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. (Luke 2:8-9) I love this word, “suddenly”. In this dark night when the shepherds were doing what they did every night. God sends a suddenly. That’s how God works when we are being faithful to do what God has called us to do even in the mundane, routine, or in the darkest night, God sends a suddenly. In the Old Testament God sent His messages to his people through his prophets, but because of Israel's hardened heart of rebellion it has been silent for 400 years until tonight. Into these 400 years of silence God sends a suddenly. Could you use a suddenly moment in the midst of your dark or silence? I’m asking God for a “suddenly” moment this Christmas season. A moment where He grabs my attention with His holiness, His light, His presence.
"They were terrified.” (Luke 2:9) The shepherd’s response to the radiance of God’s glory as it surrounded them was fear. We see this often throughout scripture. The essence of God’s holiness and the radiant light of His presence makes people aware of their sin. Aware of the places that are tainted, bitter, selfish, hardened, prideful, anything but holy. In that place they immediately feel afraid to be unholy in the midst of holy. That’s exactly why the news the angel is about to bring is so good.
The angel proclaims 5 things to them that are as important to us today as it was that first Christmas night.
“Don’t be afraid” (Luke 2:10) There’s no reason to be afraid of God, no reason anymore to be afraid of the penalty of sin because one has come that will pay that price. Giving us full forgiveness.
“I bring good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10) How do you feel when someone calls and says, “Good news”? In the 5 second gap between them saying “good news” and what it is. I imagine winning cars, large chunks of money, dream vacations etc. There is anticipation and excitement over good news. And this good news is not just for them for that night but it continues to bring great joy for people all over the world in all times and seasons for all of eternity.
“The Savior-yes, the Messiah (Anointed One) , the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” ( Luke 2:11) These were most likely jewish shepherds who had been told and taught the prophecies concerning the Christ. The angel specifically uses the names foretold by Isaiah and confirms he’s been born right were the prophecy said he would. Tonight is the night when hundreds and hundreds of years of hope and anticipation has come to pass.
“And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) The sign of him laying in white strips of cloth bundled around him in an animal feed trough is an unusual but fitting sign for these shepherds that God was at work to reach out to the lowly. He was entering right into the midst of their world, right where they were at. They didn’t need to clean up first. Because He was about to make them as white as wool. I love that the first people that God told and the first people that came to see Jesus were lowly shepherds. I love that God’s “good news” is for the lowly. It’s not just for the elite, smart, rich and famous, but it’s for those of us who feel lowly. This news that seems to be too good to be true isn’t just for those who seem too good to be true. I’ve always felt lowly. I’m not sure why. From the time I was a young child, I felt afraid a lot. My home was full of a lot of yelling and fighting, conflict and strife. I felt a lot of shame that I wasn’t more brave and that I ran and hid from the fighting. After my dad left our home, I felt different being in a divorced home with a single mom. We didn’t have a lot of money and we struggled to keep up with the life of 3 kids in sports. As an adult there’s been something about having to battle cancer, and migraines that makes me feel physically lowly. I’ve never made much money, had an important title or been successful by the world’s terms. I often can’t keep up, and don’t feel like I’m as strong as I should be. This is hopeful to me, it is good news that brings great joy that this gift was proclaimed to the lowly common people. Right in the place where we feel not enough, in the very places where we feel lowly, God shows up with the “good news” of his grace.
“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth”
This peace God is proclaiming means total well being, and the absence of all conflict. Peace comes to the recipients of God’s grace. I have often struggled with feeling like I needed to strive for God’s approval, but the gift of Christ is to remove all self striving and to put into its place great peace.
The Shepherds responded by doing three things that should be our response to this Good News and Great Joy as well.
“When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby lying in the manger.” (Luke 2:15-16) The shepherds had an immediate response to this good news. They had a desire to go to Jesus. They hurried, their response wasn’t slow. It wasn’t when it warms up, when it slows down, when we have more time. That’s what so many of us do with Jesus's invitation to come to him. We put it off until a more opportune time. Their encounter with God’s glory compelled them to want Jesus now, in that moment. They hurried to it. There’s a lot of hurrying at Christmas-hurry to put up the tree, hurry through Black Friday Sales line, hurry to get the shopping done, and the presents wrapped. This Christmas let's be like the shepherds and hurry to see Jesus, the lamb of God, to steal time away in his presence. It’s what can make this Christmas richer than any other.
“After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherd’s story were astonished.” (Luke 2:17-18) Time in the presence of God will alter our hearts in such a way that we can’t help talk about him and his goodness to those we interact with.
“The Shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” (Luke 2:20) They responded to God’s good news and great joy with worship. Let’s make time this Christmas to reflect on our “good news” and “great joy” as the lowly shepherds did and respond with worship!
2018/12/06 at 5:53 pm