Waiting with the Shepherds

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” – Luke 2:15​

Christmas, that most anticipated time of the year, is approaching once more. Did you know that the account of Jesus’ birth is recorded only in the gospels of Matthew and Luke? It is noteworthy that both accounts differ in structure and focus. Matthew tells of the wise men, who were mysterious and wealthy, but not the shepherds. Luke speaks of the shepherds, who were simple folk who kept to themselves, but never mentioned the wise men. The Bible gives two separate accounts of Jesus’ birth and the picture that it paints is a composite of different stories and details.​

Remarkably, the wise men and shepherds were each led to Jesus in their own ways. The wise men saw a bright new star in the sky, while an angel appeared to the shepherds. Some say that shepherds and wise men represent the spectrum of humanity. The shepherds symbolize the simple while the wise men represent the learned. ​

As we reflect on the shepherds in the Luke account, several lessons are brought to mind.​

First, the Lord identifies Himself with the lowly and the outcasts. Such were the shepherds, who were despised as being at the bottom of the social pyramid, sharing the same status as tax collectors and dung sweepers. Yet the Lord chose to identify himself with the lowly people by being among them at His first coming, being born in a ​nondescript town to an ordinary Israelite girl. This very fact should remind us to care deeply about the poor and the oppressed.​

Second, we need to listen and obey as the shepherds did. After the angel’s announcement of the Saviour’s birth, they decided to see for themselves what God had done (Luke 2:11-15). So they travelled to Bethlehem and found that everything was as the angel had said. The baby Jesus was there in a manger, wrapped in cloths (Luke 2:12, 16). We can learn from the examples of these shepherds, having the same eagerness to listen to God and obey Him. An angel may not appear to every one of us, however all of us have His Word and are blessed when we hear and obey (Luke 11:28).​

Third, ordinary people can tell others about Jesus. These ordinary shepherds, who were outcasts among their people, were the first to hear of Jesus’ birth and to spread that news. It can be said that they were the “first evangelists”. We can follow their example.​

Fourth, hearing and spreading the good news should lead us to respond in worship. After seeing Jesus for themselves, the shepherds went and told others about what they had experienced. They also returned to their flocks praising and glorifying God (Luke 2:20). They could not help but worship the Lord.​

How about us? There are times when life feels so full of trouble, and we, and those around us, grow soul-weary. This Christmas, let us “wait with the shepherds” in expectancy. Let our celebrations be full of worship and adoration to God, and let us share the “good news of great joy” with renewed hope in our hearts to those around us. Afterall, Jesus is the reason for the season, and he is the greatest gift of all. Alleluia!​

By Elder Aaron Lee​