The Christmas event is played out in church productions, sermons, books, and art every year. One scene of the event involves the announcement that the angel made to the shepherds. It is a beautiful scene. Sometimes elements are added that are not necessarily biblical in nature. What does the Bible tell us about the circumstances surrounding this angelic announcement. Obviously, there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks. The Magi from the east would not show up until well after the birth. Remember, they found the Christ child in a house. Interesting, isn’t it? Out of all of the wealthy and influential people of Palestine, God chose to bring the greatest news the world has ever heard to a group of dirty, low class shepherds. These men had no ambition for fame. They were accustomed to the sounds of nature around them. It was to them that God determined to bring this great news. Do you remember how the 23rd Psalm begins? “The Lord is my shepherd….” We know that they were located somewhere near the village of Bethlehem. If you go to Bethlehem today you can go to the traditional site that is called the Shepherds Fields. While there is no way to know that this is the exact spot where the angel came to them it certainly gives you a feel for the way it might have been. There are many caves in the area that the shepherds would have used for shelter. (I love standing in those caves and singing “Angels we Have Heard On High!” What an experience.) The biblical account in Luke 2:8 is intentionally vague. It could have been anywhere in a several mile radius around Bethlehem. But we know they were out in the cold of the night. And we know that it was night. That has a powerful spiritual implication for us. It is often when your world is the darkest when God will come to you with brightness from His glory. The world was shrouded in darkness when Jesus came. When He comes into a life, that life is also shrouded in darkness. Remember that Satan is the ruler of darkness. (Ephesians 6:12) What a beautiful sight it must have been. The presence of God filled the sky with such splendor that it caused those Judean stars to grow dim. Tomorrow we’ll look at the message of the angel. Here is a word from the Word: In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. (Luke 2:8-9)
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 13:06:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015