Word Made Flesh : Week 6 – The Shepherds

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Though shepherding was the most ancient profession of God’s people, the Israelites, it was not a particularly desirable one. It was a dirty job, and according to the Bible, it was considered “detestable” in cultures like Egypt. When considering the shepherds of the Christmas story, the shepherds stood for the average Judean — quite literally, ‘the man on the night shift.’” Shepherds had a difficult job that earned no rank in society. Yet, God chose shepherds to receive the glorious angelic announcement of the birth of Christ. Jesus didn’t come for the rich, or the elite, or the healthy, He came for those who understood their need of the Savior!