The Shepherds on Christmas Night

We can read of the shepherds on Christmas night in the second chapter of The Gospel According to Luke. The story records the miraculous angelic announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ.



Think about what this night must have been like. Have you ever worked a night shift or even the dreaded overnight shift? I have worked my fair share. I remember working late nights into early mornings at the radio station. There is nothing like the quiet of those times of night. Every once in a while I would get surprised by a security guard opening the door at 3 AM.



Imagine the shock of the angelic interruption. This dark and quiet night quickly became the opposite. Consider the bright light as we are told darkness became light as the "glory of the Lord shone around them." What a stark contrast to these men who had probably been on their shepherding routine for years.



Then this quiet night became loaded with an entire multitude of angels---praising God! One angel would probably be enough for a person to just about jump out of their skin---but what about a multitude?



These shepherds, surprised to say the least, then traveled to Bethlehem.



What could top this angelic prelude? God becoming human.



The greatest miracle of all was before these shepherds; on, no doubt, the most exhilarating night of their lives.



Why is the birth of Jesus so significant?



Jesus is not only the most notable of all notables in history. Jesus is God in human flesh.



We do not have a God who cannot sympathize with us. We have God who descended and became one of us. Jesus became a man in what theologians call "The Incarnation." We cannot comprehend the immeasurable humility displayed for such an event.



God becoming human ultimately makes Him our eternal contemporary; able to sympathize with our struggles and pay the price for our sins.



Only a human could redeem humanity; this is exactly what Jesus did on the cross.



The Shepherds on Christmas Night enjoyed a front row seat to the beginning of our redemption. If Jesus did not become a man He would not be eligible to pay for our sins.



This is where the Joy of Christmas begins. Jesus came into the world; salvation is here.

Hallelujah!



-Jason Vreeke