8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
I had a poster when I was younger that we hung in the hallway of our home. It was a picture of this scene, shepherds taking care of their sheep and a bright star appears that is an angel of the Lord. This picture is always ideal for childrens bibles or for posters like the one I had where it bring the festive holiday mood. But we should constantly keep in our hearts and mind praise because this wasn't a bedtime story, this wasn't a fairy tale or a fable but there was a child. He is our Lord. From the beginning of time Jesus Christ was there and he came down to this earth for the one purpose to be the "great joy that will be for all people", our salvation.
Sisters lets study the word on our own further this holiday season and get to know our Lord more and what this night truly means.
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2 comments:
thanks for your reflection, miriam. i wonder if there is a co-relation between how much joy you feel at the news that "a savior has been born" and how much you recognize your true condition before God. those who have no sense of their sin and feel "equal" to the task of meeting God face to face one day might feel utterly indifferent to the news.
but for those of us who have had a glimpse of our desperate condition, our utter hopeless estate, there is no better news than this: that a Savior has been born to us.
yes, it is wonderful, glorious news to the one who knows who and what they really are before God.
Thanks, Miriam.
The question I wonder is why did the angel's appear before lowly shepherds and shared the good news with them instead of announcing it to the kings, nobility, and upper class of the land. I remember Pastor William explained to us that at the time of Jesus' birth, shepherds were of low status, poor and looked down upon, but they were fortunate to be chosen to witness the greatest miracle of all time. I think the common theme behind the nativity is humility, which is ironic because one would assume it should be the opposite. God is grand and majestic, but everything about the nativity is not. It exudes humility, which is actually perfect for Jesus' character.
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