“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:8-14 NASB
Grace Perspective:
The good news of Christ’s birth came first to a group of shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks at night. The shepherds were alert and on guard to make sure nothing harmed their sheep as darkness descended.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a brilliant light shone, and an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, telling them that the Savior was born.
Imagine for a moment what they thought when the angel then told them the baby, the Christ, was in a manger, a place where animals ate. The Savior wasn’t born in a warm home but a stable surrounded by animals. This was not the setting anyone imagined as they thought about the Messiah coming to earth.
Yet, God rarely does things the way we would. Instead of being born in a palace surrounded by royalty, Christ was quietly born in a place with little fanfare until the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. Then with great joy, they were the first to announce the gracious news that the Savior had finally come to earth to redeem His lost sheep.
A Touch of Grace:
What does the good news of the gospel of grace mean to you?
What does it mean for you to have peace with God?
Grace Application:
God did not send His heavenly messenger to the Kings of the world, or even the religious elect. The angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds, men who faithfully kept watch over their flocks even in the dark of night. God graced these men to be among the first to know the Messiah had arrived in the world.
The shepherd’s frightened response was in keeping with the magnitude of the message they were given. Can you imagine being among the first to hear the good news of the Messiah’s coming? God explicitly chose these humble men to bear witness to the birth of God’s only son.
The good news that the Messiah had finally come into the world was not given to religious scholars or the priests who faithfully kept the temple sacrifices. It was first revealed to men who were considered among the lowest people of Israel. Shepherds were poor and considered lowly by many in the “religious” community.
After the angel of the Lord announced Christ’s birth and gave the shepherds a sign so they could find the beloved child, these humble men were blessed to see a concert, unlike anything we could imagine. The sky was illuminated with a “multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:13-14 NASB
My heart beats faster, imagining the splendor and majesty of the heavenly host proclaiming that the prophecy given centuries earlier has just been fulfilled! Close your eyes for a moment and picture the pitch-black night sky suddenly illuminated by the glory of the Lord. The quiet night air was broken only by the sounds of sleepy sheep, suddenly pierced by a multitude of heavenly voices praising God. I wonder if even the sheep grew silent and looked up in awe with their shepherds, wondering what it meant that the Lamb of God had been born.
The shepherds wasted no time in leaving to find the Savior. Luke 2:15-16 tells us they hurried to Bethlehem to find Christ the Lord and found Him just as the angel said they would, lying in a manger. After seeing with their eyes, the truth revealed by God’s messenger, they could not keep the good news to themselves. They proclaimed the gracious good news to many who “wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.” (Luke 2:18) They were the first to share the gospel of grace with the world.
This Christmas, let’s take time to worship the One who came as a baby but eventually conquered death for all who proclaim His as Christ the Lord.
Merry Christmas!
Prayer:
Gracious Father, Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be my Savior. Forgive me when I’ve wandered away from You. Help me worship You with all my heart as I remember the gracious good news that Christ my Savior was born, then died, and was raised from the dead to conquer sin. May He be glorified in my life today and every day until I reach Heaven. In the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
**Today, as you read this, I pray each of you will know for sure you are in Christ Jesus. If you have any doubts, please call out to God, so all doubt may be erased. Today is a good day to be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions, please contact me at graceisdawning@gmail.com**