Unlikely Influencers

Merry Christmas.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth 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 heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. - Luke 2:8-20

Something absolutely amazing has happened.  God has come to the world as a child, a newborn babe.  And to whom does an angel appear to share the news, but shepherds in the field, tending their sheep?

Right there, we should see that this is not going to be the story we expect of the coming Messiah, the one who is to raise us out of oppression and lead us as a king.

The kings or wise men form the East will discover the event by the science of the time, astrology.  No angels would come to them until after they see the baby and then plan to go back to tell Herod.

So, God wants the shepherds to be the ones to tell the people the news.  Salvation is come to those who would be least likely to be considered influencers of the day.

Of course David was a shepherd and the Messiah was to be a descendent of David, so why not tell the shepherds first?

God doesn't do things the way we expect, and that's what makes everything He does so unique and special.  When what he does is explainable, we tend to say it is not His doing.

So, when He wants us to know it comes form Him, He surprises us.

Today should not have been a surprise because everyone knew from Scripture the Messiah would come some day, but no one expected it to be the way it was.  And that's why many today still wait for what they expect.

Those of us who believe the Messiah has come should live as though he has changed the world and brought us out of oppression to salvation.  Isn't that what today is all about?

More to come...