The Shepherds’ Visit

Scripture: Luke 2:8-16

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had 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.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. (Luke 2:8-16 NLT)

The angel’s message to the shepherds: The Savior, the Messiah has been born in Bethlehem. You are invited to see him, to visit him! Suddenly, not just an angel, but a heavenly choir, a vast host, joined him and sang a hymn of praise to God! This was true spectacle! The shepherds were at first terrified. But they recovered quickly and headed into town to see what the angel had told them about. They found Mary and Joseph, and there was the baby lying in the manger, just as the angel had told them.

Why did the angels appear to a rag-tag band of shepherds living out in the hills and not to the priests at the Temple, nor to the King in his Palace, nor to the rich or powerful or important people? Why did God’s angelic announcement come to these shepherds who lived on the very margins of Jewish society? Because it was and always has been God’s intention to show concern for the outsiders, those marginalized by society, those who are poor, sick, weak, and powerless.

When Jesus began his ministry, from the very beginning he called his followers from among the ordinary people. He called me! He’s calling you!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you that you sent Jesus to ordinary people like us! Mary said, “He took notice of his lowly servant girl!” You took notice of Mary, of me, and of each one of us reading these verses and meditating on your goodness today. Please help us to respond as Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the shepherds to your invitation. May we say with Mary: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” In Jesus’ Name!