The Shepherds of the First Christmas

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:8-20 NIV

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Since my one word for 2023 is Shepherd, I would be remiss to pass up the opportunity to blog about the Shepherds in the Christmas story. 🐑😁 There are two lessons from this story that I want to touch on.

The verses above from Luke 2 might be familiar to you. They are some we often hear around this time of year.

Jesus came for all

Something I find interesting is that the angels came to share this miraculous news about Jesus with shepherds, who were not respected at the time. Did the shepherds feel overlooked by their peers? Did they feel shunned by those around them? Due to their occupation, many people looked down on them.

“Most people of status throughout the empire viewed shepherds as lowly and sometimes as rough, unclean or even dangerous.” [1]

Yet one night these shepherds’ lives were changed forever. They were told of the most amazing news. And imagine the sight when they saw the angel and a great company of heavenly host.

The story of Jesus’ birth and this scene with the shepherds reminds us that Jesus came for everyone. His birth, life, love, death, and resurrection was for you and me and anyone who will accept Him. Even if you feel overlooked and forgotten by those around you, Jesus sees you. He is there for you. Always.

I love one of Jesus’ names – Emmanuel (also spelled Immanuel) because the meaning of this name is “God with us.” He is always with us. His birth brought great joy for us all. He also brought us peace, love, and hope.

And most of all, Jesus offers us salvation. These precious gifts are ours, if we accept Jesus into our hearts.

In her book, The Gifts of Christmas, Sheila Walsh shares, “I have a letter on my desk from a prisoner who wants to know if he has sinned too much to be able to receive the love and grace of God. There is no hope for his release on this earth, but I was able to send him a Bible and announce the good news that because of Jesus, everyone who calls on His name has a future and a hope for all eternity.” [2]

Reflecting on the Christmas story and the shepherds who heard the good news, may we remember how loved we are. He will accept anyone who calls on His name. You are never too far away for the Lord to reach you. He is only a breath away.

Jesus can use all of us

After the shepherds received this word, they believed it to be true. They decided to “go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.” [v 15] Then the shepherds shared this outstanding news with others. “They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” [v 17]

These shepherds became the first missionaries to share this joyful news about the Messiah. These shepherds were having a very ordinary night, tending to the sheep, when their whole world changed.

The shepherds of the Christmas story remind us that God can use all of us in His story. We might feel inadequate and unqualified, but God can and will use us for good, if we allow Him to.

Charles Stanley wrote, “God cares about everyone, despite his or her occupation or standing in society. By Jewish tradition, shepherds were known to be spiritually unclean. Yet the Lord chose these men to proclaim the birth announcement of his Son—the Savior of the world. The angel told them not to fear, but to open their eyes and watch for the wonderfully good thing that the Lord was doing for them and for the whole world—something that would bring great joy to everyone.” [3]

Every year we celebrate Christmas. Yet often with the busyness of the season, we might forget how weighted this miraculous gift is. Jesus’ birth means so much. Jesus came so that we could live. He brought us abundant life [4]. He came to save us. Here on earth and through eternity. Our lives have meaning, thanks to Him. We have a special Savior who loves us beyond measure. I hope this Christmas we all can remember and embrace His unfailing love.

Thank you for reading. I hope you and your families have a blessed and peaceful Christmas. 🎄

© 2018-2023 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

[1] NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Copyright © 2016 by Zondervan

[2] The Gifts of Christmas, © 2023 by Sheila Walsh, Published by Baker Books

[3] The NIV Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, Copyright © 2017 by Thomas Nelson

[4] “… I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10b