NATIVITY By Mike Herron

Chapter 13: SHEPHERDS AND ANGELS - Luke 2:8-20 (December 26 th )

od’s pattern of visiting the humble and lowly is repeated in the story of the shepherds and angels. It signals to us that ‘the new world coming is of a radically different shape than the former one…’ 1

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,

keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Shepherds were at the bottom of the social and economic scale. ‘It is most likely that these shepherds were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple Offerings were chosen.’ 2 As many as 30,000 lambs would have been raised in the fields around Bethlehem to be sacrificed during the Passover celebration in Jerusalem. Mary has just given birth to the ultimate Lamb of God who will give his life for the world. God chose to reveal his Son to the lowly shepherds as they were not encumbered with endless religious barriers like the scribes and priests in Jerusalem. We cannot be certain as to the exact month or day of Christ’s birth but this verse leads us to believe that Jesus was born 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.” The angel, most likely Gabriel, appeared instantaneously in a flash of glory, ‘the radiant shining forth of any or of all the divine attributes of God.’ 3 The shepherd’s great fear would be