Enter the shepherds at the stable scene. I like the addition of the shepherds in the Christmas story because God used the outcast, the humble, the invisible to spread the big birth announcement. God could have broadcast the message any way he wanted but He choose the shepherds to make His name known. Put yourselves in their sandals. I think if I saw the angel chorus as they had, I would be in shock and awed by the angels proclamation. This scene became real to me one year as a Sunday School Christmas program director. Student "Gabriel" came from out of the side stage to make his most grand announcement, only his line in the production "Behold I bring you tidings of great joy..." came two pages too early. It was the first time I really saw the shock and awe in the characters faces, for good reason, they were truly surprised!! Good thing they knew their lines.
The shepherds were not a respected people. They were seen as thieves, despised, unfit for any other respectable occupation. They were the outcast, who kept themselves on the outskirts of cities and towns, the shunned watching the dumbest of the animals. Don't you find it interesting that God choose this group with the most important message in all of history?? I do. After hearing the news, they immediately went to witness the miracle birth for themselves. They didn't stand around and ask any questions, nor did they wonder if what they had really seen was real. No... they just went and worshiped. Then they told everyone they saw, they didn't hold back. The rejected giving a message of hope.
I see a trend here...Mary obeyed, Joseph obeyed, shepherds obeyed. And they worshiped. Don't miss this. Are you willing to respond to the call of the Savior to leave your "to-do" list and hurry off to see the miracle of the manager? Pause......see the baby Jesus.
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