The Shepherds and the Angels

Luke 2:8-20

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 Saviour, 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. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

In the fields near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching their flock in the night and the angel came upon them and the glory of God shone around them. God did not pick kings or princes or nobles but He picked the shepherds who watched their flock diligently guarding them against wolves or thieves or any such dark force. The shepherds did not sleep or slumber at this hour for they could not afford to do so; they guarded that which was their living. We are also called neither to enter into spiritual slumber nor rest in the world but to guard ourselves from the forces of darkness. We are right now in the dark hour like the way shepherds were out in the fields at night. The second coming of the Lord is near and the satan as a roaring lion walks about whom he may devour. I Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” This calls us all to be sober and vigilant like the way the shepherds were that night when the angel came upon them. The glory of God shone around them. This morning I was talking to my aunt in India and she spoke to me about the power of intercessory prayers during the night when all around you people are asleep. That dark hour, you and the heavenly Father can have a special communion and His glory shines on you and the revelations at that time are so wonderful. Few times I awoke in the middle of the night and I was strongly summoned into His divine presence and all alone with my God the precious moments that I had are so full of His glory and when I wake up in the morning I am revived and renewed by His strength!

The shepherds were afraid at this just as Mary was afraid and the angel calmed them down by saying, “Fear Not” just as the angel did for Mary. The shepherds were brought the good tidings of great joy that was not just for them but unto the entire mankind. The good tidings brought their way were the birth of the dear Savior Jesus Christ in the city of David which is Bethlehem of Judah. The sign given unto the shepherds was that the babe would be wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. The shepherds were not asked to go meet the Savior but the angel’s sign given to them suggests that they are to go and find this Savior. This was only the sign they are asked to go with for who would lay a child in a manger. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and He would clothe us with His joy and peace lifting off any feeling of guilt and wretchedness. What a glorious way to bring the good news of the Savior of the World! The heavenly host joined the angel praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” He who came into the world came in the most humble fashion, yet there was great joy in heaven about the birth of this Savior because this plan of Salvation was for us humans the creation created by God’s own hands. None on earth are given this privilege except us humans that the Lord God sent His son for our sakes. It is God’s love for us and the heavenly host proclaimed the goodness of God by praising Him and raising this beautiful anthem of praise unto Him who is worthy! God brought peace on earth and good will toward men through Jesus Christ. We are granted this peace that passeth all understanding when we break open our hearts to receive the wonderful Savior. When He is in, the devil is out. When He is in, the peace and joy are ours.

When the angels went their way into heaven, the shepherds discussed with each other saying, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” They came in haste and found Mary and Joseph with the babe lying in a manger. How swiftly the shepherds proceeded to meet the Savior and per the sign explained to them by the angels they found the babe lying in a manger. God speaks to us when we have the eyes of our heart opened to Him and His beautiful truths. Look, the shepherds did not wait there but made their way to meet the Messiah. When we have such a ready heart to receive and act, God will reward us bountifully. And, when the shepherds saw the baby in the manger, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. They are filled with courage and they made known abroad the saying that was told them concerning the humble child lying in the manger. This child was not in a royal mansion with a host of princely jubilations sung unto Him; instead He was laid to rest in a manger where the animals are fed yet He was the Bread of Life to many who willingly dine on Him. The place where animals are fed was now adorned with the Savior of whom the heavenly host proclaimed to the shepherds. All they that heard what was told by the shepherds wondered at this; they probably wondered because it came from the shepherds who held the lowliest profession on earth. But Mary, the mother of Jesus, kept them in heart and pondered about them. She heard about Jesus from angel Gabriel and to her hearing from the shepherds about what Jesus brought into the world (i.e., peace and goodwill) must have simply confirmed the truth about the child that she brought forth. II Corinthians 13:1 says, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” The shepherds’ news was in harmony with what the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary. The high and mighty people many times lack this receiving heart. Let us take time to search our own hearts and see if we count ourselves high and mighty in any area. Let God humble us so we may receive His word in entirety! The way Mary pondered in her heart is the way we should meditate on the scriptures and then the truth about them will be revealed to us. When we dwell on the Word of God, the light in the Word will come to light our lives with His heavenly wisdom.

The shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for what they have heard and seen. Not only did they receive the message, but they also acted based on the message given to them and are filled with joyous praises to the living God of Glory! When we hear something from the Lord, may we also have the same believing heart and if we are asked to act in faith, let us do so without questioning but simply trusting the Lord like the way the shepherds did. They were filled with praises and were glorifying God; let us also do the same. In truth, all the Word of God is given for our sakes. II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Nothing in the Word of God should be questioned and it is given for instruction in righteousness.

I wish everyone A MERRY CHRISTMAS! Let the joy of the Lord fill your hearts now and forever!

Next: The Temptation of Jesus Christ – Part I