Luke 2:1-21
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 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.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
The Fist Birth announcement of Jesus was given to shepherds by an angel...And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night...An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified...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.”...
The shepherds hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, who was lying in a manger...When the shepherds 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...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...
It is interesting that the Shepherds were the first to see Baby Jesus...Shepherds have been around Israel and a part of their history since the ancient times...Shepherding was hard work and they were always at work protecting their flock, no matter what the weather...It was hard to keep clean in the desert shepherding sheep all day and all night, with little water...Shepherds were in the lower class of Israel, but God humbly wanted the shepherds to see His Son first...The three Patriarchs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were shepherds...And King David was originally a shepherd...This Baby would be our hope of mankind's future...He was Grandson of David's...He would be called the Son of David...He would be called the Lamb of God...He would also be called the Good Shepherd...
The shepherds hurried off from their flocks and went to see Jesus probably unclean...Jesus was just a Baby then...Two thousand years later Jesus still accepts the last, the least, and the outcast...He forgives our sins, and all our imperfections...This Baby was the One who brought us the good news and the gospel that causes great joy for all the people...The good news continues today, because Jesus is alive...The good news extends to all people, to all nations...The Good Shepherd accepts each of us, even though we are far from perfect...The LORD is my Shepherd...