Sometimes, we get to thinking that God could never offer us salvation because what we have done in the past makes us unworthy. This daily devotional looks at how the announcement of Jesus’ birth was given first to the shepherds, the lowest of the low in first-century Jewish society.
Nuggets
- We need to understand the shepherd’s place in society back then.
- The shepherds wasted no time it going to Bethlehem to see what the angels had told them about the coming of the Messiah.
- The world in which Jesus was born was not the peaceful, serene place many of us may have imagined, based on the “Silent Night, Holy Night” idea of the birth of Jesus.
Devotions in the 2021 Christmas series
If you have lived in the United States for an appreciable amount of time, you have likely watched “Charlie Brown Christmas” and heard Charlie Brown exclaim, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!” Since 1965, America has heard Linus tell Charlie Brown the shepherd’s version of the Christmas Story.
Why the Shepherds?
Have you ever wondered why God announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds? It may not have ever dawned on you. I know it never occurred to me before.
I think that is because we don’t truly understand what the shepherd’s place in society was back then.
- Shepherds were not allowed to testify in court and often were accused of being petty thieves.
- Shepherds were usually social and religious outcasts, considered unclean for Temple worship.
- For all intents and purposes, shepherds were the lowest of the low in society.
- Maybe God appeared to the shepherds because He knew they would respond.
Consider this verse.
“… But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isa. 66: 2 NKJV)
God considers those in the lower level of society back in those days to be of more importance than those in palaces. So, it is not surprising that he chose to announce to shepherds first about the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
So, considering God knew that the shepherds would likely go and tell as He desired them to, let’s consider the passage of scripture below.
“'So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (Lk. 2: 15-18 NKJV)
The shepherds wasted no time it going to Bethlehem to see what the angels had told them about the coming of the Messiah.
The Scripture above says that they came with haste. That means they hurried to get there. They didn’t stop to ask directions (what man would?) and rushed to the stable where Jesus lay in the manger.
Then the Scripture says that they “made widely known.” They didn’t just go to check out the stable and leave. No, they went out and told everyone they came across what they had been told and what they had seen.
To make something widely known implies that they scattered to all directions to tell people. It’s a safe bet they went about telling people for several days, although we aren’t really told that.
For comparison, think about what you would do if you witnessed something as amazing and fantastic as the angels and Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.
Even though the shepherds were considered the lowest of the low in parts of society back then, isn’t it interesting that the Bible doesn’t say anything about Mary and Joseph trying to keep them away from Jesus? They were allowed access to Him openly.
The World at This Time Was not a Safe Place
The world in which Jesus was born was not the peaceful, serene place many of us may have imagined. The “Silent Night, Holy Night” idea of the birth of Jesus isn’t totally accurate.
- Galilee was under the control of the brutal Roman Empire.
- When the Romans captured a region or country, they ruled it with martial law, and levied heavy taxes that put significant burdens on the people.
- The political, economic, and spiritual climates of Galilee were in shambles.
At that time Rome enforced what is known as Pax Romana. What Pax Romana was (Latin for “Roman Peace”) is a roughly 200-year-long period in Roman history which is identified with increased and sustained inner hegemonial peace and significant order despite several wars, territorial expansion, and revolts.
An interesting contrast to each other during this period of history to make note of is:
- Pax Romana = Caesar Augustus, Emperor/Dictator, made war, bad news wherever Roman soldiers appeared, forced rule and “peace.”
- Jesus = Son of God, Prince of Peace, whose birth is Good News
That’s the good news of Christmas! Christ Jesus came to the earth and got involved in the mess of this world we had created.
Making the Connections
So, what does all this mean? Let’s think this through. If your life is a mess right now, I have great news for you.
- God is not waiting for us to get our acts together before He gets involved with us.
- Jesus came to get involved in our messiness.
- God did not wait until the world was safe to send His Son. It still isn’t safe.
- He sent His Son into a dangerous world. And God has sent His Son into our dangerous world, too.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3: 16 NKJV)
Jesus left the perfect sinless environment of heaven and came as a helpless baby. He came to bring all of us real peace!
Do you have the peace of Christmas in your lives right now? You can. Jesus is the light of the world.
All that is required is to ask Him to forgive you of your sins and receive him as your Lord and Savior. The rest will follow as you follow him.
Forgiveness is, when we ask, the act of God pardoning us because we have shown repentance for breaking His laws and commandments, which allows us to become holy as He is.
- Repentance is acknowledging our separation from God and expressing sorrow for breaking God’s laws and commandments by making the commitment to changing ourselves through obedience so that we no longer do the wrong things.
Sins are actions by humans that disobey God and break one of His reasonable, holy, and righteous laws and commandments, goes against a purpose He has for us, or follows Satan’s promptings.
- Holy means to be set apart — because of our devotion to God — to become perfect, and morally pure while possessing all virtues.
- Perfection means we reach a state of maturity because the combination of the spiritual graces form, when all are present, spiritual wholeness or completeness — holy, sanctified, and righteous.
- Spiritual graces are worldly morals that have been submitted to God to further His kingdom instead of enhancing this world.
- Sanctified means to be set free from sin.
- Righteous means we are free from sin because we are following God’s moral laws.
- Pure means not being sinful or having the stain of sin.
- Virtues are standards of moral excellence.
- Perfection means we reach a state of maturity because the combination of the spiritual graces form, when all are present, spiritual wholeness or completeness — holy, sanctified, and righteous.
Here’s the words of Jesus to carry us through.
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (Jn. 8: 12 NKJV)
Heavenly Father, help us to see the significance of your using the shepherds to tell everyone that Jesus was born. Help us to know that what man sees as unworthy is no the way you see things as unworthy and that you can use anyone to do your work. Amen.
What do you think?
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