Humble firsts

“The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.”Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The whole story about the shepherds being the first to hear God’s good news takes much of the first 20 verses in chapter 2 of Luke’s gospel. Why did God choose shepherds? I wonder if, around their campfires that night they had been discussing the Messiah, did God see a longing in their hearts? Whatever the reason I am grateful Luke included them in the Christmas story.

Paul answers this puzzle in 1 Corinthians:

“God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In this day when the making of money and security of its flow is paramount our Heavenly Father sent His angles to announce the most important news ever given to Israel:

“but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Not only had Jesus come, He had come in a lowly way, He was born in a stable and laid to rest in a manger. 

Jesus said of Himself:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. ‘

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When Jesus returns to rule and reign on earth, He will not come as a lowly rabbi, but as a king. He will rule and reign as the Jewish people have been expecting. The problem they currently have is recognising that He did indeed come to make a way for all mankind to be connected to the Father without guilt and shame. His death and resurrection were the forerunners. We can now come to the Father because of Jesus.

As this week leads up to Christmas Day, I am grateful! So grateful! He has made all things new and restored fellowship where it had been broken. Amen!