The weakness of a shepherd

I'm currently studying Luke. Its the book that we are walking through in CBS this year and it happens to be the book that the devotional Four Seven (Crusade material) uses. I decided this summer to walk through Four Seven, as it would be something I'd suggest to many students, so I wanted to be familiar with it.

That means I'm spending a lot of time in Luke. I'm sure God has a purpose in me spending much time there--so if you hear from me a lot about Luke, thats why!

One of the most beautiful passages in all of scripture (in my opinion) is Luke 2:7-19. It is here that the fulfillment of the greatest promise and prophecy is made. Jesus is born. Yea, a story you know. I've been praying lately that 'familiar' passages would be made new to me. That the 'for God so love the world,' and 'by grace you have been saved' would actually mean something to me. They are some frequently quoted and spoken on, that when I hear that, I check out. The same is true for familiar stories. The 4 soils, Jesus feeding 5000, etc. Its like I've let myself shift into this complacency where I think I'm above those things. I could go on, but I hope you get my point.

We have likely all heard of Jesus' birth. If not from the Scriptures, then from a movie, book, friend. Its become almost inescapable (in America) to know of Jesus and his birth.

But there is something about the story that just strikes me. Jesus is born, in a true miracle. And then, an angel appears to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. The angel doesn't appear to the high rulers of that time, the wealthy, the clean. No. The angel appears to the shepherds. The same shepherds that are so far removed from everything that they are not in a position to judge and persecute Mary--she is a pregnant virgin. She was ridiculed and treated poorly, but not by the shepherds. They cared about just a few things. Their sheep and a place for them to rest their head. Town news was of no interest to them. Yet the angel appears to them brings 'good news of great joy.'

Much could be said as to why God would choose to appear to the lowly to announce the arrival of the King, the Savior of all, the One, Immanuel. Maybe it was because the shepherds had so little to focus on that they were not at all distracted. Maybe its to make a point that Jesus 'came for the sick.'

More than whats surprising about the angel appearing to the shepherds is their response. They give not an excuse as to why they can't come. 'Let us go...and see this thing' They go. Immediately. Not after a mile long list of other things to do, but they just go. They see first hand the sign the Lord has given them. And then the poetic story that couldn't be written better. They go again. Don't stop there. Yes! They are amazed and they believe. Catch v 17 'they made know...' The shepherds become evangelist. The call of us all who are in Christ Jesus. They go and make know the 'good news of great joy' They tell of the King, here to save the lost, heal the hurting, and redeem the unclean.

I just envision in this scene the shepherds seeing this child as the Shepherd. All their weaknesses come to mind--they are lowly, and unclean. I love that the angel appears to the weak. He came to save the weak in His great strength. And I just have this hunch that the shepherds know they are weak. Maybe thats why they respond as they do.

"Those who have been forgiven much, love much" Same thing.

The angel appeared to the shepherd to tell them of a Greater Shepherd. And they understood.