Jesus is, of course, THE reason for the season of Christmas. He’s front and center, the main event, and we ought never to lose sight of that. But it’s also meaningful to examine what was happening around him as he arrived into our world.
His birth announcement, for example, was created by those living in his heavenly neighborhood and was a unique and powerful proclamation. God chose to publicize his Son’s arrival by dispatching a special angel to a few unsuspecting shepherds outside the little town of Bethlehem.
I can’t wait to ask God why those particular men were his first choice to learn of the birth. And though an angelic encounter would have been spectacular by itself, Scripture tells us God also enveloped these men in his own glory on that ordinary hill. Along with the angel, they stood inside that glowing circle of God’s presence, probably doing their best just to stay conscious. Imagine! The glory God! What must that have been like?
It reminds me of another glory-episode, the one on Mt. Sinai where Moses begged God to show him that same glory. The reason God said yes was because Moses had found favor with him (Exodus 33). The experience was so unusual, it caused his skin to glow supernaturally for weeks afterward.
But the angelic announcement and the glory event weren’t the only Christmas gifts those shepherds received. Suddenly the night skies grew bright with “a vast host of heaven’s armies,” angels as far as the eye could see. And they all had the same message: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
The men were told that the glory surrounding them belonged to God himself, with the hint that they were experiencing it/him because they’d found favor with God (echoing the Moses incident).
As a child I was taught the heavenly hosts were singing their message, but Scripture says they were actually saying it, most likely shouting it. Maybe they spoke in unison or maybe it was a chorus-like speech the likes of which we’ve never heard, but surely it was ear-pleasing and beautiful. As the angels finished, I’ll bet those shepherds glowed.
It didn’t take but a few seconds to mobilize a run into town, doing manger checks till they found one with a baby in it. Mary and Joseph must have said, “How did you know?” and oh the story they had to tell! If these new parents had harbored any doubts about who that baby was, the shepherds’ report surely quelled them.
Today we again celebrate Jesus’ astonishing arrival. And though we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, through Jesus we can find favor with him. That’s why I believe we, too, will one day get to see the glory of God!
“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)
That’s a marvellous post-purple prose. Watch out Paul! You’ve answered your own question- surely-God told the shepherds because they were ordinary. Ordinary, even down – trodden, as the shepherds were-even despised-was Jesus’ frequent audience. Hooray!
The Christmas story never gets old. Merry Christmas Margaret. Blessings on you and your family as we celebrate the Savior’s birth.
Merry Christmas Margaret to you and your family. Our first Christmas in our new home and it is as glorious as ever. The glory of God – what wonder!! Miss you but love still having your precious daily word.
Merry Christmas, Margaret! I think He told the shepherds first because they had a child-like faith that believed the report. Jesus’ disciples were laborers and fisherman because they were empty vessels ready to be filled. Imagine if they first told the Pharisees! Right!
I wondered about the announcement as well, and it came to me……perhaps…..because Jesus IS THE CHIEF SHEPHERD, and they were already trained to do so, but Jesus came for mankind, to be tended like sheep, compared to sheep, and we are to follow HIM- in faith – like sheep follows the shepherd; trusting him to care for, lead them, protect them,! Just a thought.