TGOC: Shepherd

I love the Shepherds in the Christmas story and “Dan”, our shepherd in the video represented them well. I hope you were able to see through his overpowering personality into the fact that he really did see himself as the “least of these”. The scrawny kid. The nerd. The president of the Glee club and and yet “God asked [them] to be the keeper of the most important message that’s ever been kept.”

While certainly true and a glorious responsibility, this invitation that started with the shepherds was not meant to end with them.

In one of the final moments on earth before Jesus’s ascension back to the Father in Heaven, Jesus gave His disciples their clear mission. We have come to know it as the “Great Co-mission” because it is intended to be shared with around the world.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The phrase “all nations” comes from three Greek words: panta ta ethne. We get the English word “ethnicity” from the word ethne . This is part of the glory of Christmas. It has always been at the center of God’s heart for all ethnicities, all nations, all people all over the world that “God so loved” and created to come to know and experience salvation from sin through Jesus. Not only are all nations meant to experience the glory of Christmas, but also each person of each nation is meant to in turn be part of the “Great Commission” to share this glorious story of salvation with others who have not yet heard.

The story of Jesus as the Savior of the whole world was meant for you on its way to someone else. The good news of Jesus was intended to make its way to highways rather than stopping in cul-de-sacs. Highways keep going; cul-de-sacs are dead ends. This story must keep going and going and going until all have a chance to hear.

This was what Paul was writing about in his second letter to the Corinthian believers.

2 Corinthians 5:14–21 ESV

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The glorious message of Christmas was entrusted to first century shepherds, 21st century method actors/accountants, and every one of us who has put our faith, hope, and trust in Jesus for salvation. We are ambassadors of Jesus, compelled by His love to share this glorious story with the whole world.

How will you respond to the glory of Christmas? Who will be the next person you choose to share such glory with this Christmas?