Musings on Christmas - Part 2
Luke 2:8-20 (NKJV)
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
This is an incredible passage. Just think about what it must have been like out in that field that night. You're probably a teenager (remember that David was a teen out tending to the sheep when we first encounter him in the Old Testament). You've been living out there in the fields for some time now. You're watching for wild animals that might want to catch a sheep for a tasty meal, trying to stay awake in the dark of the night. Then, suddenly, there's this angel standing in the field in front of you. And there's this bright light shining all around. You've never seen anything like this! You've never heard anyone tell of anything like this! You're petrified!
And then the angel starts speaking. "Don't be afraid," he says. Yeah, right. It's going to be awhile before your heart returns to your chest from the place it has in your throat right now.
And that message! A Savior! Born this night! In Bethlehem? And the angel must figure that we're going to go find this Savior, because he tells us how to recognize him. "Oh, what have I gotten myself into!" you must be thinking.
Then this great crowd of angels appears, singing like a choir never heard before. And then they disappear into heaven. "No one is ever going to believe this!" you're thinking.
The other shepherds start talking about what just happened. You're all trying to figure out what to do next. You're thinking you should get over to Bethlehem and find this baby, but can you leave the sheep? Oh, yeah, we can leave the sheep! We won't be gone that long. You're all convinced and you take off for Bethlehem.
When you get there, sure enough, there is this baby in a manger all wrapped up like a newborn. This must be the one the angel told you about. This must be that Savior!
You can't keep quiet about this, even if you think no one will believe you. But, surprise, they do believe you! They are amazed and marvel at what you've told them and wish they could have been a part of that experience.
You head back to the fields, you and your shepherd friends. You're glorifying God in a way you've never done in your life. Your singing His praises. You're so thankful that God chose you for this very special moment. You're so glad you got to be the first to see the answer to all the prayers of the Jewish nation. This is a night, an experience, you'll carry with you for the rest of your life!
Now, back to the 21st century. It is appropriate for us to capture that feeling that those shepherds had that night, especially at this time of year, especially if we've found that Savior. What is more glorious than the Son of God coming to Earth as a baby, ready to live life like we live life. The God of the universe, the Creator, the Maker of all things, among His own creation as a baby, a newborn, coming for a work that could be done no other way. And like the shepherds, we can spread the word that Messiah has come! Our excitement cannot be contained!
What if you haven't found that Savior yet? Then listen to the message of those angels. There is born to YOU, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Find Him in this Christmas story, find Him in this journey to Earth as a newborn, as the One who will demonstrate and declare His Sonship and finally die on a cross for the sins of the world. And by His resurrection, He makes it possible for all of us to be sons of God and to share in His inheritance.