ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS.
Luke 2:8-20.
To be a shepherd was not necessarily considered to be one of the higher occupations in the Judean province. This is surprising, since some of Israel's great leaders had been shepherds. Abraham had his flocks, as had Isaac. Jacob kept the flocks of his father-in-law, as did Moses of his. David, the author of the well known and much loved shepherd's hymn, Psalm 23, was drawn out of the fields of Bethlehem and anointed King!
Somehow Judean shepherds came to be known as the lowest of the low, vagabonds, outcasts, thieving rascals. They may have brought that stigma upon themselves. However, it is typical of society – any society – to do-down their rural cousins.
Tinkers and gypsies, circus-folk and travellers have all historically been treated as outcasts. The Christian world conveniently forgets that John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's Progress, was a tinker himself. One of the world's largest democracies has a whole cast of people known as untouchables, yet I have been in a building of these people filled with love and beautiful Christian song.
Whatever reputation they may have had amongst men, it was to humble shepherds watching their flocks by night that the angel of the Lord appeared (Luke 2:8-9). There is nobody so low that the Lord cannot reach down into their situation, and raise them up. There is nobody so far from God that He cannot draw them to Himself with cords of everlasting love.
The sudden appearance of the angel at first struck fear in the hearts of these hardy country men. The original Greek text of Luke 2:9 tells us that “they feared fear great.” The dynamic of this idiomatic expression is captured in such English translations as “they were sore afraid” (K.J.V.) “they were greatly afraid” (N.K.J.V.), and so on.
People who have time to share scary stories by night might be susceptible to suggestion by the smallest incident, so that the appearance of just one angel has a negative effect upon his reception. It is therefore better not to scare ourselves with silly stories at all. The imperative “fear not” of Luke 2:10 should shake us awake from such folly, and in the shepherds' case alerted them to the gospel message which followed.
The gospel is “good tidings of great joy” to vanquish all fear. Why can't people understand that? It is not a list of rules and regulations, but “only believe” for “by faith alone” we are made “right with God by the Lord Jesus Christ.” Israel's redeemer has come, which is good news to be shared with all people.
The name Jesus, which He was so named when the angel had appeared to Joseph nine months before (Matthew 1:21) means the LORD (God) saves. Now the angel announced other names and titles to the shepherds (Luke 2:11). There was a hint as to His identity even in the fact that it was in the city of David (not Jerusalem, but Bethlehem) that the child was born.
First, the newborn infant is a Saviour for sure, but what does He save us from? The world, the flesh, and the devil. He is come to save us from ourselves, from the guilt of sin, and the legacy of death and hell. He is come to overcome death, the wages of sin, and to usher us into a new kingdom of life and righteousness and heaven itself, into the presence of God forever.
Jesus is named secondly as Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah. Prophets, priests and kings were anointed, and He fulfils all their ministries in His own Person. He is the chosen one who will bring salvation to Israel, and light to the Gentiles – thus fulfilling Israel's ministry to the wider world.
And thirdly, He is Lord. Amongst Greek speaking Jews this meant He is the God of Israel, the true and living God whom they dare not name. Let no-one be deceived into thinking that the Bible does not teach the deity of Christ!
There was more than one occasion during Jesus' ministry when He was asked for a sign, in order to establish His authority. The shepherds didn't even ask: the angel offered the most beautiful, and perhaps one of the most well-known and well-loved signs of all: the babe in the manger (Luke 2:12). It is a simple sign, but carries all the magnificence of the incarnation into the realms of the familiar.
God is come in the flesh to redeem mankind, nothing less. He is born King, and yet born to die. He alone can bear away the sins of His people, making reconciliation with God by His own blood. He alone can conquer sin and death on our behalf. Mysteries which even the angels are left desiring to look into (1 Peter 1:12).
Now, suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (Luke 2:13). Heaven cannot contain the love of God, but must reach down in the Person of his Son. And whilst the gates are open, there is nothing to prevent the angels also bursting forth. Such is the joy when a child is born – this child, Jesus!
A whole multitude to sing the Gloria. What a magnificent spectacle it must have been! Yet this was not in the Temple but in the fields. No building can contain God, and no church has exclusive rights to Him.
A multitude, then, to sing God's praises amongst the highways and hedges. It is from there, from amongst the despised and rejected, that the Lord gathers a people to Himself. For He too is despised and rejected, and when He comes to His own, His own receive Him not: there is so often no room in the inn of their hearts.
What an anthem (Luke 2:14)! Glory is sung in the highest places to God, for salvation is of God alone, through Christ alone. Peace - Shalom – is pronounced on earth: peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. God has shown His good pleasure towards all men, both Jew and Gentile.
How do we respond to such good tidings, such a demonstration of God's good pleasure, such good news, such a gospel? The shepherds left all else aside in order to seek Christ, and that with all due haste (Luke 2:15-16). No word is given as to who watched their sheep whilst they were gone: they had more pressing matters to attend to. Their earlier fear had been totally dispelled.
After they had seen Him, they proclaimed Him (Luke 2:17). When we have found Christ ourselves we want to share Him with others. The shepherds became teachers, sharing with others what the angel had told them about this little child.
The people marvelled (Luke 2:18), enjoying the story as we enjoy the story of Christmas - but how soon we forget! Mary pondered the meaning of it all (Luke 2:19), keeping it close in her heart. We do not immediately have all the answers, but we must treasure the truth that we do know until God should shed further light upon it in our lives.
Only then did the shepherds return to their vocation, and to their sheep (Luke 2:20), glorifying and praising God. Yet they would never be the same, they would see life differently from now on. After our mountaintop experiences we return to the ordinary and the mundane, but our experience of God should inform our everyday life.
After the festival we return to our homes and our duties, but we must not forget the angels' song and all that it signifies.
