The Shepherds' Revelation (Luke 2:8-20)

By way of introduction:

Last week we looked at the visit of the “wise men” to the infant Jesus. This time we will consider how the shepherds came to be the other party of early worshippers at the occasion of the birth of Jesus. The shepherds received a revelation of good news, made good decisions, witnessed to the truth, and worshipped God. These then are four areas in which we will study what happened with the shepherds.

(1)    REVELATION RECEIVED (v.9-12)

While the shepherds were literally minding their own business, they were confronted by what was evidently, given the shining “glory” right around them, an “angel of the Lord”; which was subsequently accompanied by a whole “host” of heavenly beings. This was not something that happened every day, so understandably there was a ‘fear reaction’ … “they were terrified” (v.9). One may have expected something like this to happen at the temple, but never out in the fields! No-one would have expected such a huge sound and light show to be turned on for just shepherds.

This is because, despite their good level of care for sheep, such shepherds were not highly regarded … partly due to not being able to observe Jewish practices and synagogue attendance. Some people viewed shepherds as thieves much like gypsies. These shepherds were people on the margins of mainstream society, the lowest paid of the working class, thought to be at the bottom of the pile – nameless nobodies. Yet God can appear at any place at any time to anyone of his choosing!

Then the shepherds heard the words, “Do not be afraid”, which I reckon in some circumstances, would have made sane people even more frightened. Yet there was a reason not to be afraid … a very good reason … actually, the best of reasons – the birth of a Saviour, Messiah and Lord. This would be such good news as to bring “great joy for all the people”, and these shepherds were receiving a decent sort of ‘heads up’! But why these shepherds? Now, as we have said, it’s not as if they were important people, not to anyone except the sheep that they cared for.

They were not royalty or religious leaders, and certainly were not as important as the ‘wise men from the east’. Herod would not likely ever hear about what the shepherds were doing. These were humble folk. Why them … why would these shepherds receive this revelation of “good news”?? Was it the very fact that they were lowly humble people that they received this ‘heads up’? The very sort of people that would respond well to Jesus throughout his later adult ministry! Or, was it because these shepherds would be bearing witness to the ‘Great Shepherd’, who would ultimately give up his life for his particular sheep – the sheep of his pasture?

(2)    DECISION MADE (v.10-16)

Now, these shepherds had some decisions to make. First, it is a conscious decision to get past fear. One has to find the courage to apply fully their faith, and not let certain circumstances or discomforting events disrupt them unduly. When the angel said “Do not be afraid”, the shepherds would have to decide to get past any of their fear reactions and apply some positive resolve. Secondly, the shepherds would have to allow the very offer of a sign (v.12), together with the praise-filled voices of the “heavenly host”, to reassure them towards an action-based response.

When the angels left the shepherds to their own devices, they would need to make the decision to go to Bethlehem. What we then read is the secret to their actual presence at one of the greatest scenes in history – “Let us go now …”. Not only was there this positive unhesitant resolve, but also a bold statement of expectation – “… and see this thing that has taken place” (v.15). They didn’t run and hide, nor did they simply go back to their jobs – rather the shepherds had a quick chat and then headed for Bethlehem without delay and indeed with “haste” (v.16).

(3)    WITNESS PROVIDED (v.16-18)

The shepherds’ determination to visit the birthplace of the Christ child provides a great witness to the searching, guiding, relationship-seeking God. God spoke and the shepherds responded! Their excitement and expectations had been raised by this certain “news” that was of both personal and universal significance – it had happened in their time and space (“to you is born this day”) and was relevant to everybody of all generations (“… great joy for all the people”) … all stated back in verses 10 & 11.

When their expectations were fully realised, these shepherds widely “made known” what they had been told in preparation (for their discovery). And why wouldn’t you want to be an active witness to this! Not often in this world is their such “good news of great joy”!! There might be temporal types of joyful good news … the end of a war, landing on the moon, the fall of the Berlin wall, Australia winning a test match; but this is “good news … for all people” and “good news” for all times. Surely you would pass on this news!

As a result of the shepherds’ witness, many people heard this “good news of great joy” and were “amazed”. What is meant by this word translated “amazed”? It could suggest that people were caused to wonder what was happening in their midst … to ask questions (about this seemingly special birth) and think it carefully through. Now that’s what we’d want, is it not! It could suggest that people were surprised that such “good news” came in the form of a poor family residing in the worst of physical environments (in conflict with common beliefs held concerning the “Messiah”). It could suggest that some felt scandalised by the fact that it was despised shepherds making such pronouncements. And it could suggest that some people actually marvelled at the plausible truth of it all! Ultimately, no doubt some were “amazed” in a positive way with a positive outcome – many were wholly impressed and responsive.

(4)    WORSHIP GIVEN (v.13-14; 20)

The shepherds experienced first-hand what worship was about (refer v.14). True worship points to the glory of God – to the creativity, compassion, re-creativity and generosity of God. God’s glory rules the heavenly realms, but also traverses the earth … where those who respond to God participate in God’s peace – both as recipients and as transmitters. Those who receive peace with God would naturally become peace-makers and reconcilers on earth. In this way, the great vision of peace enveloped within the worship of the “multitude”, can start to become realised.

Having experienced such worship, the shepherds come to worship themselves (refer v.20). And they did this, not just fixed in one place, but mobile worshippers through the movement of their lives. The shepherds’ lives had been undoubtedly changed through this encounter with the Divine – one could only hope that these particular shepherds will now be viewed in a new way by the general populace.

And in conclusion:

So, over these two weeks, we have seen the two groups who were the witnesses to the greatest birth in history – foreign astrologers and lowly shepherds. What might this indicate about Jesus? The shepherds’ arrival at the manger certainly anticipates two things about Jesus: (i) that Jesus will have a special interest in the marginalised and those rejected by the strong and powerful, and (ii) that Jesus himself will be “Great Shepherd” who would be prepared to leave the ninety-nine to search for the single lost sheep.

What does this say to us? That those who will respond to Jesus, like the foreign “wise men” and the shepherds, may actually be those who appear (or we consider) least likely – those very different to us or those outside the mainstream (or outside our definition of respectability).