God chose shepherds to reveal the birth of his Son to the world. Why? Why not the spiritual leaders in the synagogues who would be interested in the Messiah coming to earth?
We aren't told, so we cannot create God's meaning in the absence of an explanation from scripture, but the response from the shepherds may be all we need to know. The angels come and inform the shepherds of Christ's birth. "You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will among men!' When the angels went away from them into heaven, the said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste...." (Luke 2:12 - 16)
The shepherds heard the word and responded immediately without thought. Today, we hear the Word of God's Shepherd, sent to tend to His flock. "'Simon (Peter), son of John, do you love me?' Christ asked. 'Yes Lord, you know that I love you.' Christ said, 'Feed my lambs.'" (John 21:17) Christ would ask two more times and would tell Peter to "tend" or "feed" His sheep. We are Christ's sheep.
Christ responded to the Father's will and gave his life as the ultimate sacrifice. We, his sheep, receive the gift of eternal life because of our Shepherd. We respond to this without thought as well, responding to the love of Christ.
Have a truly Merry Christmas in the name of Christ whose birth we celebrate at this time of year!
Hope Men's Ministry
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