I just got an email last night from a friend of mine. She sent it from her iphone...from the delivery room at the hospital. Today she has a beautiful new baby boy. This instant ever present technology still amazes me. When I had my first child, I remember my husband told anyone and everyone in earshot; I don't think I have ever seen him as animated as that first few days, telling the story or seeing the birth of our first born son! Oh what a special memory of my precious husband, literally crowing about his little son.
Well, do you think anyone could outdo God when it came to His firstborn, very special son? Not on your life or any other! He made his own special announcement. He set a star in the heavens, a new star, a star that traveled, perhaps. You've seen the pictures on Christmas cards (unless your under thirty...and then you may never have had the privelege). It's a beautiful night. And the star sits above a homely little barn (really almost a lean to shed), lighting up an excited mother, child and earthly father. There are shepherds and wise men and a few sweet looking barn animals all looking at the baby who has this perfect little circle around his head. As I pondered this, I thought about how so like God to put a marker in the heavens above us-the place between His kingdom and our own little world. And He did it with FIRE!
Anyway, back to the announcement as it really occured!
Out on a dark field were a few shepherds, watching their flock. They were poor men, happy to have the work, invested in keeping their flock safe through another night, most likely pretty young, boys perhaps. And then it happened: "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified (Luke 2:9)."
Well...not exactly an accomodating reaction but I think I would be terrified to have the glory of the Lord, the pure holy presence and light of all of creation shine all around me too! Okay...back to the story:
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:10-12).”
So like, WOW! That's a birth announcement. So this baby is the Messiah, the long awaited savior of the Jews, the one born of the lineage of Abraham, Moses, David...who will save the whole world! This is the promise fulfilled for every Israelite! This is the moment in history that literally turned the world upside down....changed everything into something else. It was at this moment that God chose to speak to poor men on a hillside-it could have been anyone up there, these were not special guys, priests, kings, rich men with good ties and political savvy. They were just dutiful sons, good plain young men...like David. Was this visit to honor his faith? Or the faith of the shepherding son to come, the good shepherd who loves his little flock. Oh what love is found in this announcement! It is a message to every man, poor, humble, or rich and mighty. And it came on the wings of angels!
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests' (Luke 2:13-14)."
Okay...can you imagine the choir retreat those angels had before they appeared??? (Short aside...I bet they were as tickled as a barrel full of puppies to be selected to such a service.)
And what they sang! This baby was all about God...something special happened to earth-peace came between man and God; deliverance from evil was in motion from the first breath of this child. What a moment to sing about. And it is clear from whom the message comes...God in the highest heaven! This indeed is a special birth announcement from a place none of us can reach, none of us can see without spiritual eyes.
"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 (Luke 2: 15).”
I wonder if their mouths were dry and their palms sweaty? I bet they thought there would be huge crowds at that manger, don't you? Imagine when they get there, nobody but Mary, Jesus and Joseph are around. All is quiet. We assume they kneel and worship. Of course they explain why they are there. I bet they left in even more wonder!
"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them (Luke 2:16-18)."
And so after their visit they just had to tell everyone because, well, they were men of action! So like a common man isn't it, to tell the story to everyone of something special that happens to him. Can't you just hear the town folk..."These kids are delusional. God wouldn't announce something like that to them! Why He definitely would come to my house first...I give tons of money to the church, pay all my tithes and then some, I'm there every day the doors open. I pray and sacrifice. God surely would tell me first! Besided nobody in town heard or saw anything on that hill. Oh and of course God would come to His temple first. Why a hillside? That's just ludicrous....everyone knows the high priests would see Him in the temple and come out and tell us!" Oh yeah, they were amazed all right...amazed because it didn't make any sense, amazed and most likely doubtful.
There was no response from the town. The Bible mentions no more men or women going to see the baby in the manger until later (until the wise men come). Why didn't they believe these shepherd boys? Because it didn't happen the way they thought it would...but then nothing about Jesus lines up to the religion of the time.
But the announcement made a great impression! It rewarded Mary's faith. And it forever changed the shepherds-they knew it was real; they had the muddy knees to prove it! Their ears had heard something very few others have yet heard-the angels singing!
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 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: 19-20)."
I hope you take time to treasure and reflect upon your precious shepherd today. My favorite rainy day drink is calling...hot peach green tea and a little bit of cream.
Are you not writing anymore??
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