The Shepherds Perspective at Christmas
This is a series of posts for our December sermon series, “The Cast of Christmas.”
Just another night. Some shepherds showing up to their night-shift job. The skies were clear and the weather was mild. Without anticipating anything out of the ordinary, these men responsibly went to work to tend the flocks and keep them safe. These shepherds were likely from Bethlehem and grew up around these fields and pastures; familiar with the night sky they worked under.
One, two, three…all there. The flocks are safe. Checking the perimeter, constantly aware and alert to any threats or dangers, these men knew what it meant to take care of their sheep. Typical dangers lurking in a shadow. An awareness of the dark and what challenges it brings. What a surprise when an angel from heaven appears in the night sky and God’s glory suddenly blazed around them. A choir of Angels singing! The very first proclamation of the birth of Jesus!
“Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Matthew 2:15-18
When life is dark, the light shines brightest. When life is ordinary, it is easy to recognize the extraordinary! These shepherds didn’t lead a life full of frivolity or fanfare. They lived a life of simplicity. They knew the fields; they knew the sky. Night after night, they showed up and did their job. God showed himself, his son, to the ones who kept showing up.
It was to ones leading an ordinary, dare I say, unexceptional life that God first shared the news of the birth of Jesus. Why does this matter? What makes it significant? It is significant because we are reminded that it is not our theology, our titles, or our roles that make us eligible to receive good news. Simple faith, a simple life, or just simple obedience can be what leads us to see, which leads us to believe.
This Christmas, let us not overlook the fact that Jesus sees the simple. The simple heart, the simple celebration, the simple obedience. He seeks the simple; he pursues it. And in the simple, he shows himself miraculous!
You can watch the message here: