Monday, December 27, 2010
The first to preach the Good News
Merry Christmas to all!
One of my favorite portions of the Christmas story in the Bible is the account of the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20. This story is rich just on its very surface. An angel appearing to the shepherds, then a multitude of angels appearing. Singing praise songs. Now, there is a worship session I would like to attend! I always hear the Hallelujah Chorus in my mind's ear when I read this scene. Tidings of great joy. Peace and goodwill. This story includes the heart of the Christmas message, and the promise of the life God desires for us to live, what life is like when we live in His kingdom.
But there is another aspect of this story that often gets lost in the grandeur of the immediate message.
The shepherds are the first New Testament preachers of the Good News!
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
(Luke 2:16-18, New Living Translation)
Let's stop and think for a moment who these shepherds were. They were considered some of the lowest characters in Jewish society. They didn't own the sheep they were watching over. They were hired hands who spent most of their time separated from the rest of society and mostly among other shepherds. They were considered story tellers and liars, and could not even testify in a court of law.
And yet, these were the very men to whom God chose reveal the birth of His son. They acted on this astonishing news without hesitating. And, once they had seen for themselves, they immediately reported everything to anyone who would listen.
Why did God choose them?
Some time later Jesus would tell his disciples that it was God's pleasure to reveal his wisdom to "little children."
Did God choose them because they had nothing to lose? No pride of station in life that would stop them from telling everything just as they had experienced it?
What about us? A new year is about to begin. I don't know about you, but I would like to continue the tradition that those shepherds started 2,000 years ago.
One of my favorite portions of the Christmas story in the Bible is the account of the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20. This story is rich just on its very surface. An angel appearing to the shepherds, then a multitude of angels appearing. Singing praise songs. Now, there is a worship session I would like to attend! I always hear the Hallelujah Chorus in my mind's ear when I read this scene. Tidings of great joy. Peace and goodwill. This story includes the heart of the Christmas message, and the promise of the life God desires for us to live, what life is like when we live in His kingdom.
But there is another aspect of this story that often gets lost in the grandeur of the immediate message.
The shepherds are the first New Testament preachers of the Good News!
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
(Luke 2:16-18, New Living Translation)
Let's stop and think for a moment who these shepherds were. They were considered some of the lowest characters in Jewish society. They didn't own the sheep they were watching over. They were hired hands who spent most of their time separated from the rest of society and mostly among other shepherds. They were considered story tellers and liars, and could not even testify in a court of law.
And yet, these were the very men to whom God chose reveal the birth of His son. They acted on this astonishing news without hesitating. And, once they had seen for themselves, they immediately reported everything to anyone who would listen.
Why did God choose them?
Some time later Jesus would tell his disciples that it was God's pleasure to reveal his wisdom to "little children."
Did God choose them because they had nothing to lose? No pride of station in life that would stop them from telling everything just as they had experienced it?
What about us? A new year is about to begin. I don't know about you, but I would like to continue the tradition that those shepherds started 2,000 years ago.
