And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just 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 behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! Luke 2:8-11
A shepherd’s job was to watch over the sheep. Watch the flock, so by night they would be safe. But this night was different. The message they received was unlike any other. A host of Heaven’s angels singing the praises of the Glory of this Newborn King.
It surely was a sight. The angel’s response was, “Do not be afraid!” The fear quickly turned to joy because they went straight to see all they had been told and when they found Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, they ran through the streets praising God.
The sheep they watched were blemished. In some way, imperfect. To see the perfect lamb must have truly been a sight for their watchful eyes.
We are those blemished lambs looked upon by our Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and because of that, we needed the perfect sacrifice to come and take our place.
We needed our relationship restored. Before Jesus came the only way to be forgiven for a time was through a sacrifice. That was never enough and was never meant to be. God needed a solution to be available for all and for all time. Because of our sins and blemishes, our relationship with God was broken and the only answer was through Jesus.
I am always amazed when I think of Jesus, leaving His perfect home, coming as a newborn babe. The most vulnerable state of a human’s reality. The dependence on others for our mere existence. Yet, God chose for that to be the path to accomplishing His work.
Not only was His path, to take on a human body but to take on the hardships of human life. To come as a servant. To be born in such a lowly place as a stable. To be laid in straw, in the manger, wrapped and covered only in swaddling clothes.
Why would God leave His Heavenly home to do all of that for me? For you? Love!
Love came down. Wrapped in those swaddling cloths. Wrapped in the protection of His Loving Father. Wrapped in the plan to save us and set us free. His arms wrapped up tight so one day they could be opened wide to welcome home His prodigal children.
For me? For You? Love!
The reason for Christmas, so the Shepherd could one day look His blemished sheep in the eye and see us as His perfect children. Through the cross, through His loving sacrifice, Jesus.
Emmanuel, God has come (Isaiah 7:14). He came to be with us. I love that He is willing to be a with us God. To show His power and love through the miracle of His One and Only Begotten Son.
For God so loved the world, that He sent His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
Whoever chooses to believe in God’s only Son, whoever chooses to turn their life and trust over to Him will not perish. You did not choose this life but you can choose where you spend your eternal life.
God came, took on the form of a man, it’s why we celebrate Christmas, so you and I could choose life.
While the shepherds watched over their fields that night….
Emmanuel came to be the God with us. Will you choose to Believe this Christmas?
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Why would God leave His Heavenly home to do all of that for me? For you? Love!
