Announcing Good News
Scripture
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.”
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.”
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 2:8–15).
Reflection
Had the Lord consulted the wizards on Madison Avenue, they would have told him the best way to get the word out about the birth of the Messiah would be to inform the important people, those who really mattered. “Start with the Emperor. There is no better way to get news out to the entire world than to capture the attention of Caesar.” They would go on: “This is the birth of the Messiah, so Jewish elites should also be high on the list of those to get the message: the High Priest, the Torah scholars, an important Pharisee or two, and of course the local Roman vassal, Herod. There must be wealthy people and local celebrities in and around Bethlehem; get them on board. You will have an outstanding publicity campaign if you do all of that.”
God didn’t consult marketing executives: He announced the birth of Jesus His way. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25). He sent his angels to proclaim the good news of the Messiah’s birth to a most unlikely audience: shepherds tending to their flocks. Shepherds were at the bottom of the social heap: their pay was terrible, their hours long, and they worked with sheep! It was hard, thankless, humbling work.
Yet to these lowly men protecting their sheep at night, God first revealed the birth of our Lord: “Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah…” the angels announced. The Long-awaited One had finally come, and God sent his messengers, NOT to the great, famous, or well-connected; he sent those herald angels to poor, insignificant, marginalized men. He chooses the weak and small of this world to confound the proud. He did it then, he continues to do it today.
The sign the angels gave the shepherds was equally curious: “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Not very impressive when you think about it: a poor baby lying in a feeding trough. Yet in that child, “the hopes and fears of all the years” are met. They went to Bethlehem, found Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus. The shepherds shared what they had been told about the child—and everyone who heard them was amazed by what they said.
For the most part, over twenty centuries, all the emperors, kings, high priests, and lawyers have made little impact on the world, and have been mostly forgotten—so have the shepherds, for that matter. That child in the manger, however, continues to inspire, transform, and save the suffering and poor of every generation. May our hearts and minds be open to him as he is born in His us again every day.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel.
O Little Town of Bethlehem verse 4
Prayer
Creator God, you had Jesus’ birth announced to humble shepherds protecting their flocks; they heard the angel’s announcement and believed the good news that was proclaimed. We, too, have heard the Good News proclaimed to us. Deepen our belief in the transforming power of Jesus to bring us joy on earth and eternal life with you in your kingdom—and help us to share it with others.
Activity
The message of our Savior, first told to shepherds, must be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. People come to faith by hearing the Good News shared by believers. EVERY Christian has a story of faith to share; what transformed you can inspire countless others. Think about how you have experienced God’s power in your life. Share that story with a family member, friend, or acquaintance who may need to hear it.
Watching and Waiting For the Lion of Judah: Advent Day by Day
Rev. Richard Hasselbach