THE SHEPHERDS CAME

Luke 2:8-14 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. 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 Savior, 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. (Also Read Vss. 15-20)

Historically we know that the abundant pastures and natural water around Bethlehem was well suited for herding sheep. It is also well known that David cared for the flocks of his family in this area. It was here, in the same country, following the birth of Jesus, that we find shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Although sheep tend to gather in flocks, they graze with their heads down and often stray away from the herd without regard for their safety. Therefore shepherds are constantly needed, both day and night, to lead them to food and water, protect them from predators, and search for them when they wander away from the sheepfold. It is well to note here that secular historians assure us that sheep, during this biblical era in Palestine, were normally sent out to pasture around the time of Passover and were returned home immediately preceding the rainy season. Since Passover occurs in springtime and the rainy season begins during the latter part of October and the first of November, the birth of Jesus could not possibly have taken place on December 25 as currently celebrated. The reason this date was chosen is the subject of many debates. However, this "holy day" was assigned by early "spiritualists" and can be found in manuscripts dating from the 4th through the 6th century. Even though the date was in error and without scriptural authority, Roman Catholicism endorsed and universally promoted it during the following eras.

Returning to the lesson, it was immediately after the birth of Christ Jesus, and while shepherds in the pastures near Bethlehem were watching over their flock by night, ...the angel of the Lord came upon them. Rays of light emanating from his being evidenced the spiritual nature of this angel of God. Without understanding the reason or consequences of this occurrence, these shepherds were overcome with fear and were sore afraid. The angel immediately soothed and calmed their apprehensions by telling them to fear not, and assured them that his visit was to deliver good tidings of great joy. And this was the message delivered by the angel of the Lord: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. The name "Jesus," was the earthly name of the Son, who, by miraculous conception through the Holy Spirit of God, was born to Mary. In this text we find two other heavenly, or spiritual, names given Jesus. The name "Savior" carries the meaning of one that, not only protects, but also frees earthly beings from all evil and danger that jeopardizes their souls. And the name "Christ" means the one chosen by God - the one anointed as the long-awaited Messiah and King, assigned by God from the beginning of the world, to deliver and rule over His people throughout eternity. To the shepherds, to all Israel, and to all people of the world, the message delivered on this day by the angel of God brings nothing but good tidings of great joy to all that hear, believe, and obey the complete will of our Heavenly Father.

The desire of the shepherds to go immediately to Bethlehem and see this child was evident. Therefore, in order to seek out, identify, and be assured that the babe, when found, was Christ the Lord, the angel gave them a sign. The promised Messiah would not be found, as expected by the Jewish nation, in a royal mansion attended by numerous attendants, nor would he be dressed in royal clothing. Rather, Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. The Son of God, the Savior of the world, came into the world, not with stately splendor, pomp, and pageantry, but in the lowest, most humble manner a child could possibly have been born into this world. To assure these shepherds of this, the lesson text tells us that 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. This wonderful event, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, was the fulfillment of God's will from the beginning of time. Having taken place at this time in the city of Bethlehem, as prophesied, only God was to receive praise, honor, and glory.

In verses 15 through 20, following the lesson text, the story of the shepherds continued. After words of praise and adoration toward God, the angels ascended back into heaven. Immediately the shepherds agreed among themselves to go unto Bethlehem in order to find the babe, whom the Lord hath made known unto us - the promised Messiah, the Savior known as Christ the Lord. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. What they found that day in Bethlehem assured them that everything revealed to them by the angel had truly been the will of God. And having these things confirmed in their minds, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. Having privately and miraculously heard of the birth of the Christ Child, having witnessed Him as he lay in a manger, and having earnestly believed Him to be the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world, they publicly proclaimed this wondrous event to the world around them. These good tidings of great joy overwhelmed the shepherds to an extent that they could not contain it within themselves. The wonderful news that the promised Messiah had been born in Bethlehem just had to be shouted to all Jewish people that were near enough to hear them. And all they that heard it wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds. The fact that the first news of the birth of the Messiah came to poor, lowly shepherds, instead of being announced to the highest Jewish patriarchs and spiritual leaders, caused wonderment to those when the news came to them from these shepherds and others that had been told.

One can only imagine the thoughts that continued to recur in the heart and mind of Mary. All that had been prophetically revealed to her about the conception and birth of Jesus by Gabriel, the angel sent by God, had now been fulfilled. No doubt as she gazed into the manger at her newborn Son, these were her thoughts, and she pondered them in her heart. Following this, these poor, lowly, common Jewish shepherds returned to their sheepfolds, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. As humbly as they knew how to express it, they praised God for having heard of, and witnessed the Son of God that was sent to earth, and through Whom God would offer the hope of eternal salvation to all that, through obedience, accepted Him as their Savior.