THE SET UP: One of my favorite things about the account of Jesus’ birth is the unique cast of characters in the story. Yesterday we talked about the Magi, wise men from the east who came to worship Jesus. They were wise and wealthy. Today, we would place them among the “elites.” But what Jesus came to do wasn’t just for the haves in society, it was also for the have-nots. That included some of the most blue-collar people in that day, shepherds.
Shepherds were essentially nomads who wandered with their flocks, spending more time with sheep than people. They were seen as lowly and untrustworthy. In fact, shepherds were not allowed as witnesses in court because it was believed you could not trust their testimony. How ironic that God would choose shepherds to be the first witnesses to the birth of Jesus. After angels appeared and brought them, “good news that will bring great joy to all people,” their first thought was, “Let’s go to town and see this for ourselves!” The first people to see and worship the newborn Messiah were shepherds. All of this is prophesied by Solomon in Psalm 72. As Solomon describes a great king that will one day sit on the throne of Israel (the Messiah), he writes, “Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust.” That night in the stable, nomadic shepherds bowed before Jesus.
God making shepherds the first witnesses at the manger isn’t that ironic at all. It is consistent with the way God used every day, ordinary, run-of-the-mill people for extraordinary things. It’s one of my favorite things about how God works in our lives. Advent and the Christmas story is a reminder to each of us that Jesus is for all of us. As we wait in anticipation to celebrate the good news, may we be reminded that the gift of Jesus is for all of us and that we can be messengers of that hope.
PASSAGE TO READ: Psalm 72, Luke 2:8-20
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
· Why do you think God chose the shepherds as the first to come and worship Jesus? Is there anything surprising to you about that?
· If Jesus’ birth was happening now, who would be the equivalent of shepherds (unlikely characters) in the story?
· What does the spectrum of worshippers (Magi to shepherds) in the Christmas story mean to you when it comes to who God is and how he sees us?
PRAYER: “God, thank you for showing us in the birth of Jesus that the gift of your son and the gift of salvation is for everyone. This Advent season may people who don’t know this, who think they are not qualified, discover that gift. In Jesus’ name, amen.”