Glory

Glory

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

WHY THE SHEPHERDS? The question popped into my head as I read the Nativity story in Luke for the thousandth time. What was God doing when he sent angels to the shepherds to declare Jesus’ birth?

My curiosity sparked research resulting in an entirely new understanding of the depth of meaning behind the Nativity story. It began a new, tender love for the shepherds, characters who previously seemed a bit of an afterthought as I placed their wooden figurines firmly off to the side of the holy family on my mantel every Christmas.

Culturally speaking, shepherds were nobodies. They held the lowest of positions in society, legally prohibited from testifying in court because their testimony was worthless and deemed unreliable. And yet a heavenly host appeared to them, filling the heavens with song as they declared the birth of the Messiah—arguably the second-best news (the first being Jesus’ resurrection) the world has ever received. Why would God entrust such an important announcement made in so spectacular a fashion to societal outcasts whose word could not be trusted?

And, on the other end of Jesus’ life, an angel announced to a woman—another people group prohibited from testifying in court—Jesus’ resurrection, sending Mary as the sole witness back to the disciples (see John 20:1-2).

God intentionally announced the Messiah’s birth and his resurrection from death to people without influence, position, or power. God is God, and he does not share his glory.

God sees the nobody, the outcast, the one deemed unacceptable and he loves them; he loves us. And he frequently uses nobodies to accomplish his will, because we don’t take the glory for what we know was not possible under our own strength and ability. We give God glory when we point others always back to God, humbly acknowledging God’s hand in our ministries and work.

Lord, thank you for choosing shepherds and women for your most important declarations. Thank you for using nobodies to accomplish your will. We linger before you this Christmas in reverent awe, acknowledging your glory. Amen.

-Julie

One Good Step: Share the story of the shepherds —how God sent a heavenly host to fill the heavens with song to a group of nobodies—with someone you love.