In this portion of scripture, we find the shepherds out in the fields watching their sheep. Many commentators have pointed out how this probably could not have been in December since the weather would have been too harsh to allow the sheep out of the sheep pen. Many think these events occurred in the spring or summer. In fact some commentators propose that Christ was born during the Passover season. We celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25 because of the Jewish Festival of Lights which was always held on the 25th day of the last month of the Jewish calendar. Early Jewish Christians adapted their festivals to their new Christian faith. It doesn’t really matter when Christ was born. The important thing is that we are celebrating his birth.

McGee points out, "Many people ask the question, ‘When was Jesus Christ born?’ It could not have been in the dead of winter or the shepherds would not have been out at night with their sheep. But the date of His birth is irrelevant, just as the day upon which He was crucified is irrelevant. The Scripture does not say when He was born; the important thing is that He was born. The Scripture does not say when He was crucified; the important thing is that He died for our sins."

The angels came to tell the shepherds the good news of Christ’s birth. And the shepherds responded to this message. I want to examine how they reacted and see how we can apply it to our own life as we respond to the angel’s message.

If you can imagine this picture – the shepherds are peacefully watching over their flock. It was at night so perhaps they were getting sleepy. Then suddenly the whole sky was filled with a bright light as the angel of the Lord appeared unto them. How do you think you would react?

Here we see the shepherds’ first response – they were filled with fear. This is often our reaction the first time we come face to face with God. We are afraid. When we are faced with the Deity, we may ask ourselves, are we good enough? Can we measure up to his holy standards? Is God going to be angry with us?

At this time shepherds were despised members of society. They had a reputation of being thieves, and it was so bad that they were not allowed to testify in court. It was to these despised men that God brought the message of salvation. So you can imagine their initial reaction of fear.

After the angel reassured them, we see their second response – they listened to the angel’s message. This was a message of "good news of great joy for all people." Do we listen to the message the angels brought almost 2000 years ago? There is a Savior – Christ the Lord. We sing Christmas carols and we attend Christmas pageants. We hear the Christmas story read and dramatized. And yet are we really listening to the message of the Christmas season – there is a Savior, Christ the Lord? This Christmas season, may we hear the angel’s message, perhaps for the first time.

Notice that the angel describes exactly how the shepherds would find the Savior. In the whole town of Bethlehem there must have been only one baby born in a stable that night. McGee comments, "God knows about mankind. He knows you, and He knows me. He understands us because He came into this world a human being. This also means that we can know something about God, because He took upon Himself our humanity."

Suddenly the angel who was delivering this message to the shepherds was joined by a multitude of angels. They all began worshipping and praising God. What a glorious sight this must have been to both see and hear.

This is the shepherds’ third response – they heard the angels’ worship. The heavenly messengers were singing, Glory to God in the highest. As we will see later, the shepherds heard this worship and later on they would also praise God as the angels showed them.

During this Holiday season do we hear the angels’ worship? Do we hear the heavenly strain of, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased? Or are we distracted with shopping, and cooking, and decorating so that we don’t have time to hear the angelic worship? Amid the busy-ness of the Christmas season, let us make time for God. Let us make time to hear the angels singing their praise.

Barnes comments on the term, glory to God. "That is, the praise of redeeming man is due to God. The plan of redemption will bring glory to God, and is designed to express his condescension, and his regard to the honour of his law, and the stability of his own government. It is the highest expression of his love and mercy. Nowhere, so far as we can see, could his glory be more strikingly exhibited than in giving his only-begotten Son to die for men."

The angels end their heavenly anthem and slowly leave the shepherds alone on the hillside. While the angels were speaking and singing and worshipping, the shepherds had little time to think of anything else except what was happening before them. But now in the silence of the dark night, they can ponder the implications of this message from heaven.

Here we see the shepherds’ fourth response – they followed the angel’s instructions. The angel told them about the birth of the Christ Child. Now the shepherds are responding to this information. God tells us about the birth of his son. He tells us that there is a Savior. He tells us how we may be saved. Are we listening to this message? Are we willing to follow his instructions? Or do we want to go our own way? The shepherds did not go their own way. They left their sheep to find the Savior.

We now see the shepherds’ fifth response – they acted with haste. Once they made up their minds to go to Bethlehem, the shepherds did not delay finding the Savior. They hurried to find the baby. There was nothing else that was more important for them to do. Nothing else held as high a priority. They acted quickly and purposefully. They searched throughout Bethlehem until they found a baby in a manger. How long did they have to search? We don’t know, but they were determined to find him. They would not give up.

Let us also act with haste. Let us not put off finding the Savior – the one who will cleanse us from all our sins. Let us hurry to his side and commit our life to him. Let us be determined to find the Savior. And may we not rest until we have made him Lord of our life.

Barnes remarks, "These shepherds...were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. On the first intimation that he had actually appeared, they went with haste to find him. So all men should, without delay, seek the Saviour. When told of him by the servants of God, they should, like these shepherds, forsake all, and give no rest to their eyes until they have found him."

The shepherds had listened to the angel’s message and had found the babe. Now we see the sixth response – the shepherds told others about the angel’s message. I think they told others that this little baby was the Savior, that he was Christ the Lord. I believe they relayed the story of the angelic message – of how they were afraid, how the angels told them about the baby, and how they searched through Bethlehem until they found him. They must have made quite an impression because verse 18 tells us, all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

Have we found the babe in the manger? Have we made Christ Lord of our life? Then let us tell others. Let us also spread the message and tell the story of the Savior. Let us share the good news so that our friends, our family, and our neighbors can also experience God’s love.

Geldenhuys comments, "Just as these simple shepherds are the first persons to whom the glad tidings concerning the birth of Christ are communicated, so in turn they are the first proclaimers of the events to others."

Not only did others wonder at the shepherds’ story, but Mary also pondered these things in her heart. How could she know what the birth of this little baby would mean to the world, her nation, and even to herself!

We end this study with the shepherds’ seventh response – they worshipped God. God had chosen these lowly shepherds to announce the birth of his son. He had dispatched angels with the heavenly message. The shepherds traveled to Bethlehem and found the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Now they returned glorifying and praising God.

God has chosen us to be part of his family. None of us are rich, none of us are famous. We are humble people who meet in a small church built about 40 years ago. You have a pastor who does not have the benefits of a seminary education nor long experience as a minister. And yet God has chosen us to hear the good news. Let us also glorify and praise God for all that we have seen and heard.

During this Christmas season let us respond to the angel’s words as the shepherds responded. Let us not be afraid, but let us listen to the angel’s message and hear the angels’ praise. May we follow the angel’s instructions, and may we act with haste. Let us tell others about our Savior, and let us, like the shepherds, worship and glorify God.

Footnotes:

This study on Luke 2:8-20 © 1997 by David Humpal. All rights reserved.
All scripture unless otherwise noted is from the Revised Standard Version © 1971, A. J. Holman Company

Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, vol. 4, pg. 252 © 1973, Thomas Nelson Publishers

Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, vol. 4, pg. 253 © 1973, Thomas Nelson Publishers

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament pg. 189, Kregel Publications

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament pg. 189, Kregel Publications

Geldenhuys: The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, pg. 113, William B.     Eerdman’s Publishing Company