Go Beyond

   The shepherds are among my favorite characters in the Christmas story. A few months after the birth of my son, he played the part of the baby Jesus in our church’s Christmas musical. As a teenager, he played the role of a shepherd. Who knows, he might even get to play the part of an angel one day!

   I think it’s cool that the good news of Jesus’ birth was first announced to poor Jewish shepherds (Luke 2:8-10). This is significant because shepherds in Jesus’ day were regarded as social outcasts and were among the most scorned individuals. Their work made them ceremonially unclean and kept them from participating in the religious life of the community. And yet, God chose ordinary shepherds, not priests or kings, to be the first to hear the news of His Son’s birth. And, common shepherds would be the first to welcome Jesus — the Lamb of God.

   On the night Jesus was born, shepherds were living out in the fields in the vicinity of Bethlehem. If these shepherds provided the sacrificial animals used in the daily temple sacrifices in Jerusalem, which was only a few miles away, then they probably would have been in the fields throughout the year. These shepherds were keeping watch at night over their flock — a reminder that shepherding was lonely and often dangerous work as shepherds protected their flocks from prowling predators around the clock.

   The shepherds’ night watch was dramatically interrupted by the sudden appearance of an angel of the Lord. When the angel appeared to the shepherds “the glory of the Lord” shone around them, supernaturally lighting up the night. God’s glory is the side of God humans can see and to which they can respond in confession, worship, and praise (see Isa. 60:1-3). The shepherds initial response to the appearance of the angel was the same as that of Zechariah (1:12-13) and Mary (1:29-30) — they were terrified or literally “feared a great fear.”

   The angel’s first words to the terrified shepherds were “do not be afraid” — one of the key themes of the Christmas story (see Luke 1:13, 30, 74; and Matt. 1:20). The reason that the shepherds did not need to fear was because the angel had come to convey a message of good news, not of judgment. The word “gospel” means good news. Our English word “evangelism” comes from the same Greek word translated good news. This “good news of great joy” was “for all the people,” not just the Jews.

   Although the good news was intended for those “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9), millions around the world have never had the opportunity to hear this wonderful news. Many people on the planet today have no access to Bibles, do not know anyone who can explain the message, and have no churches in their villages or towns. They are kept in darkness by hostile governments and cultures and live in fear daily. But, God can use ordinary people like you and me to make a difference. So, be an angel this Christmas. Announce the good news about Jesus to the ordinary people who live in the fields around you.