Shepherds and Angels

Shepherds and Angels

Luke 2:8 – Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. 9 – An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.

Would the feeling of terror be any less today? I wonder if the terror would be magnified even more with our culture of science fiction and UFOs. The idea of the appearance of an all-powerful being by-passing all of our early warning and satellite surveillance systems would strike fear in the hearts of any modern-day military power. But this angel didn’t appear to a military power or head of state. The angel appeared to shepherds.

The appearance of the angel and army to the shepherds at Jesus’ birth is only a taste of what we will see when Jesus comes again. Let’s look at the message, verse 10 – But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all people: 11 – Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12 – This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Such contrasts! An all-powerful angel announcing the arrival of a baby – the only baby in all of Bethlehem, in all the world wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger. This baby is the Savior. He is Christ the Lord. He is the good news bringing great joy to all people. Verse 13 – Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!” 15 – When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.” 16 – So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph and found the baby lying in a manger. 17 – When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, 18 – and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said.

The shepherds found the baby that the angel was talking about. Then they shared with Mary and Joseph what they had seen regarding the angel and the heavenly army. Mary had the baby. The shepherds saw the angelic army. It was all to assure them all that Jesus was real. What He was going to do was real. The world was really going to be saved.

Where are we now in history? Jesus is coming again. He will be returning with the same army that appeared to the shepherds. Jesus, the baby, fulfilled what he had come to earth to do. But the earth still needs saving. The earth still needs to hear the good news! And so we relate the story of Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, angels, and Jesus. Jesus, who healed the sick and set the captives free. Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins. Jesus, who rose from the grave and is now preparing to return.

I want to be astonished. I want to see Jesus. I want to see the angels. Every year we look at the same Scripture accounts of Jesus’ advent and I don’t want it to get old. I don’t want it to grow stale. I want to treasure the story. I want to treasure Jesus knowing that one day the whole world will see what the shepherds saw. I will see what the shepherds saw and I don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to be afraid either. There are powers at work that are far beyond our comprehension. Praise God, one of those powers is Jesus Christ himself. Our returning King!