The Angel Visits the Shepherds

On that night there were some shepherds out in the field taking care of their sheep. The shepherds lived in the fields around Bethlehem. They were the lowest class citizens of the time. The shepherds were dirty, not trusted nor thought well of by anyone. No one wanted to have anything to do with shepherds. They were not religious, and the birth of a Messiah probably never entered their minds. Yet, something happened that night that changed their lives.

An angel suddenly appeared, and at that moment the glory of the Lord was upon those shepherds. The brightest most glorious light encompassed them. It was as though they were in the very presence of God, and it scared them. The shepherds focused in on what the angel had to say. “I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” The shepherds were to understand that they were all people. “Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you;(even to you shepherds) he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

This certainly was a life changing event for the shepherds. So much so that they did something they had never done before. These dirty, uneducated men jumped up, and they said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Notice that they said that it was the LORD who told us. And then, I suppose, for the first time ever they left the field leaving the sheep alone. I think everyone of them went to see Jesus.

Before they left a great company of the Heavenly host joined the angel and began praising God. They said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace on those whom his favor rests.” This great company of the Heavenly host were very moved and excited. These angels were God’s messengers, his warriors. They were God’s creation, living in heaven, and they knew their creator, Jesus. They knew him as God almighty, The Most High. How amazed they must have been to see God himself now in the human form of a tiny baby! How unbelievably different this night must have been for them. They had been sent to announce the most wonderful news for the creation that God favored most of all, man, you and me. God’s favor is upon us because he loves us. If God loved us so much that he would leave his throne of glory becoming like us, and living with us in a sinful world, then I think the angels loved us as well. What a glorious night that was for God’s Heavenly host!