Glory to God
Waiting for Light to Come | Erik Reed
FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. AND THIS WILL BE A SIGN FOR YOU: YOU WILL FIND A BABY WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHS AND LYING IN A MANGER.” AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISING GOD AND SAYING, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG THOSE WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED! ”LUKE 2:11-14 (ESV)
Everything in the world changed the day of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. It may not have been news that traveled around the town very far. It didn’t arrive to the courts of kings of the earth. But the birth of Jesus, the world’s Messiah and true King, would forever mark time around the event.
Who were the first to know of this world-shaking, history-changing news? Shepherds. The responsibility of shepherds was to tend to flocks of sheep. They were not the educated elites of the nations, nor were they revered like the religious leaders. Yet it pleased God to announce to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night the Savior’s arrival into the world.
In our passage today, we see an angel of the Lord appear to shepherds in the field. This spectacular display lit the skies in glory as the shepherds looked on, witnessing something of this nature for the first time. The Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born, and the angel of the Lord is proclaiming the news. The shepherds knew the city of David was Bethlehem, and the angel told them the sign to know they had found the right child (he would be wrapped in swaddling clothing and lying in a manger).
Before the shepherds can even leave to go into town, a multitude of heavenly host join the angel of the Lord praising God at the news of Jesus’ birth. They shouted, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Glory to God! Jesus’ birth elicited spontaneous eruptions of praise.
Why did God choose these simple men to reveal the greatest news in history? Why shepherds instead of kings, religious leaders, or wealthy merchants? God does nothing arbitrarily. The likely reasons for God’s choice of recipients to this news are: their humility in receiving it, and their willingness to tell others. We see both happen in this story. They hear the news and go to Bethlehem (Luke 2:16). They glorified and praised Him for all they had seen and heard (Luke 2:20). These humble men rejoiced at the news. There was no threat to their ego. They also shared the news with others (Luke 2:17). Aside from the angels, the shepherds in the fields were the first evangelists to tell the good news of Jesus.
We should view the response of the shepherds as a cue for our own. We ought to receive God’s Word with humility, seek Jesus personally, glorify and praise Him openly, and tell others of the Savior.
Questions for Reflection
This advent devotion, Waiting for Light to Come, was written by Erik Reed and borrowed with permission from Knowing Jesus Ministries. You can find the original publication and more information at https://www.knowingjesusministries.co
FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. AND THIS WILL BE A SIGN FOR YOU: YOU WILL FIND A BABY WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHS AND LYING IN A MANGER.” AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISING GOD AND SAYING, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG THOSE WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED! ”LUKE 2:11-14 (ESV)
Everything in the world changed the day of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. It may not have been news that traveled around the town very far. It didn’t arrive to the courts of kings of the earth. But the birth of Jesus, the world’s Messiah and true King, would forever mark time around the event.
Who were the first to know of this world-shaking, history-changing news? Shepherds. The responsibility of shepherds was to tend to flocks of sheep. They were not the educated elites of the nations, nor were they revered like the religious leaders. Yet it pleased God to announce to shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night the Savior’s arrival into the world.
In our passage today, we see an angel of the Lord appear to shepherds in the field. This spectacular display lit the skies in glory as the shepherds looked on, witnessing something of this nature for the first time. The Savior, Christ the Lord, had been born, and the angel of the Lord is proclaiming the news. The shepherds knew the city of David was Bethlehem, and the angel told them the sign to know they had found the right child (he would be wrapped in swaddling clothing and lying in a manger).
Before the shepherds can even leave to go into town, a multitude of heavenly host join the angel of the Lord praising God at the news of Jesus’ birth. They shouted, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Glory to God! Jesus’ birth elicited spontaneous eruptions of praise.
Why did God choose these simple men to reveal the greatest news in history? Why shepherds instead of kings, religious leaders, or wealthy merchants? God does nothing arbitrarily. The likely reasons for God’s choice of recipients to this news are: their humility in receiving it, and their willingness to tell others. We see both happen in this story. They hear the news and go to Bethlehem (Luke 2:16). They glorified and praised Him for all they had seen and heard (Luke 2:20). These humble men rejoiced at the news. There was no threat to their ego. They also shared the news with others (Luke 2:17). Aside from the angels, the shepherds in the fields were the first evangelists to tell the good news of Jesus.
We should view the response of the shepherds as a cue for our own. We ought to receive God’s Word with humility, seek Jesus personally, glorify and praise Him openly, and tell others of the Savior.
Questions for Reflection
- What was the news of the angel of the Lord?
- How do you think it changed the lives of the shepherds forever to see and hear the display of the heavenly host?
- Why would God choose shepherds to reveal the good news of Jesus’ birth, and not more prominent people?
- How did the shepherds respond in the story? What lessons does it teach us?
This advent devotion, Waiting for Light to Come, was written by Erik Reed and borrowed with permission from Knowing Jesus Ministries. You can find the original publication and more information at https://www.knowingjesusministries.co
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