The Shepherd's Response to Christ's Coming

Introduction

The first revelation of Jesus’ birth, outside of the stable where he was laid, was to a group of lowly shepherds on a hillside outside of Bethlehem.

The response these shepherds had to the good news that they received is certainly worthy of our imitation.

The Shepherds:

Received the Good News

For reasons we may never fully understand the first people to hear about the newborn savior were a company of shepherds on a country hillside.

It may be that the revelation of Christ’s birth came to these shepherds as God’s way of making clear that the gospel was to be for all, even the lowliest of society.

It may be that the revelation of Christ’s birth came first to the shepherds because God intended to use these men as messengers to spread the news abroad.

Whatever the reason, the shepherds were the first to receive the revelation that Christ had come.

These shepherds may have been educated in the scriptures and have been aware of the promise that the messiah would one day be born in Bethlehem or this may be the first time that they had heard of such an idea.

As the angels appear, at first the shepherds are struck with fear as anyone would have been at such a sight.

Then the angel begins to speak and his first words are “fear not” preparing the shepherds to hear what he is about to proclaim.

The angel then reveals his mission, he has come to bring “good tidings” (good news- the gospel) and this news will bring great joy to all people.

Then he shares the substance of this good news. It is that a baby has been born in Bethlehem who is the savior, the promised messiah, the Lord.

This would be the greatest news that has ever been received into human ears, the savior has finally! The messiah that the world has been awaiting is finally here!

The angel then gives them instruction as to what they ought to be looking for should they desire to see the savior for themselves.

Then a multitude of the heavenly host join the singular angel to declare

“Glory to God in the highest”- Jesus birth would bring glory to God as the fulfilment of God’s glorious plan for the redemption of mankind!

“And on earth peace”- It was in Jesus that man would finally find peace with God-

“Good will toward men”- God’s willingness to send His only begotten Son to die for the sins of man stands as proof of His good will to men.

The angels now disappear as quickly as they came leaving the shepherds with an important decision to make. Will they believe the message or will they dismiss it as fantasy or some figment of their imagination?

Response to the Good News

Immediately after the angels return to heaven a discussion is had among the shepherds. Should we now go and seek out the one that the angel has told us about?

Their decision to go and seek out the savior is the evidence of their faith. They evidently believed the angel’s declaration and are now determined to seek out the savior personally.

These men had a desire to see for themselves if what the angel had told them was true. They begin to make their way out of the fields and into Bethlehem to find this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.

Ultimately they would find the Christ and would see for themselves that the good news from the angel was indeed true.

The good news is still the same, Jesus Christ has come “...to seek and to save that which was lost” () The only question is how will you respond to this news? Will you seek the savior or will you turn away rejecting God’s provision for your redemption and reconciliation?

Each shepherd was responsible for his response to the good news of the savior’s birth. Each shepherd had the option to stay in the field or to go to the savior.

Upon hearing the good news, you and I have the same option, we can remain as we are, or we can go to the savior and receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that God offers to us in Jesus Christ.

These men came to Jesus and found Him exactly as the angels had described Him. If you will come to Jesus you will also find Him exactly as the Word of God describes Him!

These men were not satisfied with just meeting the savior themselves, they realize there were people all around who had no idea the savior was among them and they had to spread the good news!

Report the Good News

The shepherds had personally met Jesus Christ and now they were determined to give others the opportunity to experience what they had experienced.

I cannot help but wonder if the words of the angel still echoed in their memory “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

They realized the role that they must play in taking the good news of the savior’s birth to those who had not yet heard.

These shepherds would become the first evangelists spreading the good news of Jesus abroad.

You and I have the same responsibility to share what we have experienced. Have you met Jesus? Has He changed your life? Do you know anyone who hasn’t met Jesus? What are you doing to get them to Him?

The good news of Christ’s coming is still for all people, the problem is that too many who have met the savior are keeping the news to themselves!

It has been rightly said that “the gospel is only good news if it gets there on time”

God intended for these lowly, likely uneducated shepherd to be the messengers of the good news of Christ’s coming.

God also intends for you and I, regardless or our ability, to be messengers to carry the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to our community, to our generation! Will you “make known abroad” the message that JESUS SAVES?!

The shepherds could certainly have made a number of excuses as to why they were unfit to be the messengers but instead they went forth determined to tell others about the savior who had come into the world. How many came to see the Christ because of the testimony of these lowly shepherds?

Illustration- starfish