Shepherd's Status Update and Four Square Check In

Imagine the life of a shepherd some two thousand years ago. It probably wasn’t a very exciting life. We also know that shepherds did not have a very high social rank in those days. In fact, they were ranked just slightly above slaves. These shepherds were likely dirty from their job of tending hundreds or even thousands of sheep. They were probably illiterate. The job of a shepherd didn’t make allowances to attend services on the Sabbath so they probably didn’t practice the faith. In general, shepherds were considered dishonest, undesirable, and unclean. Yet, they are the only ones who received a divine birth announcement.

Luke tells us:

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

There they were, in a field in the middle of nowhere, tending their noisy, smelly sheep and suddenly an angel shows up! Can’t you just see them sitting there when the angel just appears? I am sure they expect to see an occasional wolf or wild dog but I am certain they never expected an angel! Scripture tells us that the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. Suddenly in the blackness of night there was light and an angel. Of course they must have been scared to death. I love how whenever an angel shows up, the first words often are, “fear not”. Then this angel announces a birth. Not just any birth, but rather the birth of the long awaited Messiah!

I picture these men sitting there with their mouths hanging open as they receive the announcement. Their eyes are likely half blinded by the light around them. Then the lone angel is joined by a vast host-the armies of heaven. I don’t know the exact number of a “vast host” or the precise count of the “armies of heaven” but I think we can safely assume it is a large number. Can you image the thunderous sound of their praise as they lifted their voices to God? Then they were gone!

With the sounds of angelic praise still ringing in their ears, they decide to go see what the Lord has told them about. If shepherds had Facebook, can’t you just imagine the status updates that would have been posted?

“Heading to Bethlehem to meet the newborn King!”

“Leaving the field to meet the Messiah”

“I was minding my own business when this angel shows up!”

“You are never going to believe what happened tonight”

Whatever their status update, their next Facebook Four Square Check In would have been from the manger in Bethlehem. They hurried there and found the Mary, Joseph and the baby. It was all just as the angel said it would be. After they had seen Jesus, they began to tell everyone what happened and what the angels had said about this child. People were astonished when they heard the shepherd's story.

So this story continues. The King of Kings is born in a stable and His birth is announced to lowly shepherds. Why does this matter to us? It matters because He came to redeem us, no matter our social standing. You are not insignificant to Him. He did not come as a king in a far off palace, removed from His people. He came to Earth in a humble stable, to unpretentious parents, and His birth was announced to lowly shepherds. He came for you and He came for me.

It’s my prayer this Christmas that His birth will truly change our status, both online and off. May we, like the shepherds in that dark field, hurry to His presence and tell everyone about Him.

Wishing you all blessings, peace & joy!

Leslie