by Linzy Slayden
Christmas touches our hearts, inspires our imaginations, and stirs the deepest and most creative springs within us. In its celebration, we fashion and paint our best art, write our best music, use our most decorative skills, and tell our best stories.
One such story is of the shepherds. Think for a moment. The night was no different from many others that season. The moon shined brightly surrounded by heaven’s stars that watched as the quiet rural pastures around Israel settled in for the night. Just an ordinary night, yet the night wouldn’t be soon forgotten. Put yourself in the shepherds’ place. You’re performing your daily work when suddenly the sky is full of light and an angelic being is telling you, a simple shepherd, that the very Son of God was just born near where you’re standing. Then a whole host of angels appear and begin singing praises to God. The skies are no longer dark, but light shines more brightly than the sun. The night is no longer quiet, but all of creation seems to be singing praise.
How did the shepherds respond? They left everything (even their sheep) and ran to Jesus’ birthplace. They wanted to see the answer to Israel’s prayers. I’m sure thoughts of stories passed down through their families about the Messiah came to mind as they were about to witness the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Once in Bethlehem, the shepherds watched as Mary and Joseph cared for Jesus in his first moments on earth. They might have rejoiced and praised God with Mary and Joseph, and reveled in God’s great gift. But after they had seen Christ, notice their reaction: “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” After all they witnessed, the shepherds couldn’t keep the events of the night to themselves. They had to spread the word that the Messiah, Israel’s long-awaited hope, had finally come.
Spreading the good news certainly wasn’t convenient for the shepherds. They were waking people up in the middle of the night, many of who were visitors traveling for the census, to tell them of the baby’s birth. I can just imagine the various responses to the shepherds. As Luke says, “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
As we celebrate the holiday season and take time to remember Jesus’ birth, take note of the shepherds’ reaction after seeing Jesus. They couldn’t wait to tell everyone about God’s gift! Our reaction to the story of Christ’s birth should be the same. God gave His Son for our salvation. That alone should prompt us to share the first Christmas story with those around us.
Thousands of years ago, we were all given the best Christmas gift possible. Let’s do what we do best and tell others about that gift this Christmas.