“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 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 in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:8-12 NLT)
Have you ever wondered why there was no room in the Inn for Mary and Joseph? Who was filling those rooms? The census decreed by the Roman emperor, Augustus, demanded every citizen of the Roman Empire return to their own ancestral town to register. Joseph was a descendant of King David, so he had to go to Bethlehem, but who else would have been there? Presumably there’d be many very religious Jews, likely Scribes and Pharisee’s among them. Where would they be staying?
Only the best for them! They would have sent servants as far in advance as possible to get the best accommodation available. No stable for them! They had the resources to get the best and that’s what they demanded. But not Joseph and Mary.
Why would the Lord allow His only Son to be born in a manger? Why would the angels declare to the shepherds of all people that the Messiah had been born? Shepherds were like dirt under the fingernails of the religious Jew. They had no standing in society. They weren’t even allowed to testify in court. YET! THEY WERE THE VERY ONES TO WHOM THE ANGELS WERE SENT! But why?
Could it be they were the ones the Lord trusted most to get the word out about His newborn Son? Might the declaration of the Angels have fallen on deaf ears if they’d gone to the very ones who supposedly were most interested in the coming Messiah?
Think about the shepherds for a minute. From the standpoint of their standing in the community – most despised, least trust in what they had to say – even in court! Least likely to be chosen for ANYTHING! They weren’t the guys who’d be crowding the Synagogue for service. And, very likely, even if they’d wanted to attend, they’d have not been welcome.
Yet here they were being given an audience with the Messiah! Could it be said of them that they were the unfaithful ones? Most unlikely to be given such a privilege? Yet, like most people alive today – undeserving, unexpecting, uncaring, unprepared – those are the very ones about whom the Lord is most interested in having hear His message of salvation. A new beginning! A fresh start! An underserved opportunity!
Maybe we can refocus our efforts this Christmas to reach those who aren’t looking to be reached, but who may be the very ones most receptive to an “angel’s” message.
I want to invite you to listen to a song I recently heard for the first time that’s sung by Michael Boggs entitled Come You Unfaithful. Please listen and be blessed.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 