“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over the flock by night” (Lk. 2:8).
When I was a child, I regularly played the shepherd in our children’s Christmas play. Our plays were of a different quality and nature to those of today. My shepherd’s costume was one of mom’s discarded robes and our staffs were pretty basic. I loved the part because there were no lines to learn. All you had to do was act “terribly frightened” which came naturally for a young lad with stage fright. Once again, we have romanticized the shepherds. These were simple men who were often looked down upon by others in the first century.
It appears that several shepherds had driven their separate flocks together in the open pasture to make it easier to watch over them at night. It is possible that these particular shepherds were pious men who had been waiting for the coming of the Messiah. To these lowly men, God made His majesty known as He did to Moses at the burning bush. Overcome by the awesome reality of the moment, the shepherds were frightened.
The angel stills their fear by announcing good news which will be for all people, even lowly shepherds. The Savior Christ the Lord was to be born this day in the city of David. I love the immediate and passionate response of the shepherds—“Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us” (2:15).
This Christmas will you join the shepherds and go straight to Jesus—no distractions and no delays?
Prayer: Thank you for coming to simple people like me. I join the shepherds in coming straight to You. Amen