If you had history making news, who would you tell? The biggest national newspaper? ABC news? The President or other national leader? The church elders? The preacher? Who?
When it came to announcing the birth of Jesus it is interesting to note who got the news first. In Luke’s account we read. . .
“(8) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”” (Luke 2:8-12 ESV)
Shepherds? These humble shepherds were involved in honorable work. They faithfully undertook the task to watching their sheep through the night. But why were shepherds chosen to receive this announcement? Why not the Jewish High Priest? Why not the Pharisees or teachers of the Law? Why not a group of elders of the people? Why shepherds?
Isn’t it interesting how many times God chooses the humble and lowly rather than the exalted among men to receive such wonderful announcements? Such were the ones (as we see even during Jesus’ public ministry) who were most eager to accept the Messiah. Many of the learned and exalted — the “elite” of the day — would not accept.
But there may be another parallel here. As shepherds watched their sheep, the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:14-15) came onto life’s scene. Shepherds! Jesus later would look upon the people with compassion realizing how they were like “sheep without a shepherd”. (Mark 6:34) Shepherds! Ones who realized what it meant to humbly serve and protect. Shepherds! Folks who understood what it took to meet the needs of those placed in their care. Shepherds!
But the “Great Shepherd” (Hebrews 13:20) these shepherds would go to see as an infant would one day become the “Lamb of God” who would take away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)
What a connection!
It is through humility that we are best able to receive God’s greatest announcements. To the Corinthians Paul wrote…
“(26) For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. (27) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (28) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (29) so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ESV)
Why shepherds? Why not! And why not us?
Have a great day HUMBLY RECEIVING GOD’S “GOOD NEWS”!
Carl
