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Every year around Christmas, we read the same pieces of the Bible. We read from the prophets who spoke about Jesus, we read about the manger, we read about Mary and Joseph, and we read about the angels who appeared to the Shepherds.
A mentor pastor taught me something really good about studying texts like these. I’ll share it with you. You can play the “How would I have written this?” game. How would you have written about the angels who appeared? To whom would they have appeared? Where would they have appeared? Probably not to shepherds in the middle of nowhere.
So then, in God’s story, the most perfectly told story, why did he appear to shepherds? These hardened tough men at the lowest rung of society? These were men who were stooped around the fire, wishing and hoping for the world. But God didn’t give them the world. He have them something greater. He gave them the creator of the world. Jesus.
What are you hoping for this Christmas? Look no further. God has given a gift that is greater than we could have hoped!
Luke 2:8-20
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
