CHRISTMAS – WHAT DO THE SHEPHERDS TEACH US?

Christmas narratives in the Gospels are an interesting read. The passages reveal a lot about the human hearts, and how each group of people respond to the LORD God Almighty. We find among them, poor, rich, powerful, intellectuals, religious, and simple people.

I personally like the shepherds a lot. They are an amazing group of people. They are not only the poorest among all, but also, the most disliked people, who are kept at a distance, most of the time. The shepherds who were illiterate, unwanted, neglected, marginalised and outcasts in the Jewish society, were given the rare honour, which no one else had. The Angel from God personally brought to them, the Good News of great joy.
– “God, to show that he respected not persons, revealed this grand mystery to the shepherds and the wise men; the one poor, the other rich; the one learned, the other unlearned; the one Jews, the other Gentiles; the one near, the other far off.” – John Trapp 1601 – 1669

The most troubling of all is that they were not allowed to stand as witnesses in a court of law, because they are not trustworthy people.
– “As a class, shepherds had a bad reputation…More regrettable was their habit of confusing ‘mine’ with ‘thine’ as they moved about the country. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in the law courts.” – Leon Morris

Yet, the shepherd did what no one else did, among all to whom this Good News was given. They stand tall and worthy among those to whom this news was revealed.

1- THEY READILY BELIEVED
– “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.” – Luke 2:15

The shepherds readily believed what the angel had informed them. The discussion they had among themselves tells us that they had no doubt, nor any hesitation in trusting what the Angel had said to them. They believed it wholeheartedly.

2- THEY TOOK THE INVITATION SERIOUSLY AND WENT TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES
– “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.” – Luke 2:15-16

The shepherds were men of action. They heard the Angel’s announcement and the invitation to go see the Saviour, and decided among themselves that they should go and see the Saviour. This is born out of faith in the words of the Angel.

3- THEY SHARED THIS NEWS WITH EVERYONE THEY MET
– ’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 marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” – Luke 2:17-18

The shepherds, after seeing the Saviour, went about the whole place, in the dead of the night, to tell everyone they met, what they had seen. This action speaks of their eagerness to share the good news with others. They surely were unselfish people.

4- THEY RETURNED BACK PRAISING AND GLORIFYING GOD
– “20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” – Luke 2:20

The shepherds went praising and glorifying God. What a wonderful statement recorded against the shepherds! Even though they were poor and illiterate shepherds, they surely had a good sense of God, and His mighty deeds. After all, they tend the sheep, of which some would go as sacrificial lambs to the temple in Jerusalem.
–  “It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” – William Barclay

How about us dear brothers and sisters? Shepherd heard the announcement, and did what they did. We too have heard the announcement. What have we done about it thus far? Shepherds speak to us this morning, to go do what they had done. Even so, the LORD help us.