Luke 2:8-20
Defying Proper Behavior

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.

New Revised Standard Version

It seems so simple as Luke tells the story. The angels told the shepherds to go and see, and they went and saw the infant Messiah. Of course, we say! Why wouldn't they go?

Actually, there were plenty of good excuses for them not to have left their fields that first Christmas night. As we consider these, let's also consider how often we use similar excuses in our lives.

First, no one was going to believe the story they were telling. The story was completely absurd! Can you imagine the fierce interrogation they would have received had there been a policeman walking his beat at the corner of Main Street and Bethlehem Road?

Second, these shepherds weren't at all the "right" people to receive a message from an angel. Shepherds were poor, dirty, uneducated, and living on the bottom rung of the society. The nature of their job and their poverty made them incapable of following the proper religious practices of their day, so they were dismissed as sinful by the religious leaders. Surely the angels made a mistake talking to these guys!

Third, they had responsibilities and commitments. A shepherd who left his flock was useless to the herd owner, who would have fired the shepherd immediately for leaving the sheep at the mercy of the wild animals up in the hills.

Fourth, the walk down to Bethlehem wasn't safe. They had a long hike to make in the middle of the night, with no flashlights, no street lights, and nothing more than lightly-traveled paths to guide them down from the hills and into the village. Surely the trip to Bethlehem could wait for daylight, couldn't it?

Finally, what were they going to do when they got there, anyway? These were dirty, rugged, outdoor types, unsuited to care for a mother and newborn infant. They might not have even seen a baby since the time they themselves were infants. They didn't know how to hold, comfort, burp, or change the diapers on a baby. They had few possessions, and probably nothing that would be of help to this new family. All they could possibly do was to get in the way!

If they had been logical and reasonable about this event, they wouldn't have gone to the manger that night at all. Their actions were irresponsible, ill-advised, defied common sense, and were an affront to Mary, Joseph, and the decent, proper people of Bethlehem.

But they did obey the angels, and they did go see and worship the newborn King. By following God's directions, they were a wonderful blessing and affirmation to Mary and Joseph of God's promises and blessings. By their obedience, they became the first evangelists, spreading the amazing news of the baby to bewildered passers-by as they rejoiced at the Salvation that God had sent to earth. Let us resolve to do the same!