Shepherds

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” . . . So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

Luke 2:8–14, 16 NASB

It was just another night shift with the flocks outside of Bethlehem. The shepherds expected the normal routine. Then the sky lit up with heaven’s glory, an angel delivered news of the Savior’s birth, and an angelic choir presented a celestial concert. We don’t know the name of a single shepherd. But they were important to God. What can we learn from the shepherds?

By the nature of their work, shepherds were considered “unclean,” which meant they could not go to worship at the temple. Shepherds were not permitted to testify as witnesses in court either. So those whose lives were devoted to keeping the law looked down on them. That’s strange when you consider that Abraham and Moses and David were shepherds. When His Son was born, God communicated not with the rulers in Jerusalem but with hardworking shepherds. God’s presence and grace came to them through the angels. The shepherds’ response was to go and see the infant Savior, and then they became witnesses of His birth. So the shepherds tell us of the goodness of God.

Bethlehem’s hills had provided sheep pasture for centuries, but there was nothing especially attractive about the place. Then one bright angel broke into the sky above the shepherds, and then a heavenly host. Light dispelled the darkness. The shepherds got to see what is usually invisible to human eyes. They were afraid, but the angel told them not to fear. God was a lot closer than the shepherds knew! They didn’t have to go to the temple in Jerusalem to find God; He found them. The shepherds remind us of the nearness of God.

The angel explained to the shepherds the kind of gift God had sent to the world. It was a gift “for all the people,” not just for the Jewish people. It was the gift of a person, a person who would become the Savior of the world. The shepherds teach us something about the thoughtfulness of God. He gave what the world needed. The name Jesus means “God is salvation,” or “Jehovah saves.” The name Immanuel means “God is with us.”

God chose the shepherds specifically to hear first of the Savior’s birth, because they represented the vocation that His Son would pursue: He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). The sheep on the Bethlehem hillside were probably destined to be sacrificed in the temple. Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to be the final, all-sufficient sacrifice to take away the sin of the world (1:29). The shepherds point to the faithfulness of God, who kept His promise to send a Savior. Did the shepherds look at baby Jesus and see the Lamb of God or the Good Shepherd? We don’t know. They left the manger and returned to the same job, but they were changed persons.

The shepherds could have focused on the experience of seeing angels and hearing the good news. Instead, they took action. They believed the angel, searched for and found the child (a baby in a manger, most unusual), and then became witnesses of what God had done. The purpose of a spiritual experience is to equip us to do and say something for God.

 See: Bethlehem, Inn, Light, Manger, Mary, Opportunity, Peace, Pondering

Simeon

Tradition holds that Simeon was an old man when he met Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:25–35). But it is just that—tradition. Because he had been told he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Messiah, scholars assume that Simeon had a long life. He may have lived into old age, but we don’t know for certain.

Simeon was a man in tune with the Holy Spirit, a rare thing before the Day of Pentecost. The Spirit’s work in Simeon’s life is seen in his character—“righteous and devout” (v. 25). Living in Jerusalem, Simeon probably was regularly at the temple to worship and hear the Scriptures. His words of praise to God and prophecy to Mary reveal a mind and heart saturated with God’s Word. As the author of Scripture, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to shape our minds, hearts, and wills. By some means that Simeon clearly understood, the Holy Spirit revealed to him that prior to his dying he would see, with his own two eyes, the Messiah (v. 26). This insight into God’s plan made Simeon a man who lived with a sense of great anticipation! He was also a patient man as he waited for the “consolation of Israel” (v. 25).

Simeon must have done a lot of thinking about the Messiah. Did he initially expect to meet a grown man, perhaps a military leader, or a priest? When did Simeon perceive that the Messiah might still be a child when he saw Him?

Certainly Simeon meditated on what seeing the Messiah would mean to him personally, to Israel, to the Gentile nations, and to the Messiah’s parents. His words (spoken or sung) in response to holding the infant Jesus reveal a familiarity with Scripture that has grasped the depths of God’s saving work. His words are well-crafted poetry, expressing the fulfillment of his heart’s desire and his celebration of the saving work that Jesus would do.

Led by the Holy Spirit, Simeon came to the temple at just the right moment to meet Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. How did Simeon know that Jesus was the One? Perhaps he had overheard Mary or Joseph call the infant by His name Jesus. Simeon was focused on God’s salvation (v. 30), and Jesus means “God is salvation,” or “Jehovah saves.” More likely, though, the Holy Spirit prompted him to approach the little family.

Perhaps Simeon saw them offering their sacrifice of doves or pigeons in the temple (vv. 23–24). Evidently he was not disappointed that they were an ordinary-looking and poor family. Did he ask permission to hold the baby or did he just walk right up and scoop baby Jesus into his arms? Imagine the love and joy and relief Simeon felt as he cradled the Messiah. What did Joseph and Mary think or say? What parents wouldn’t be startled and concerned if a stranger approached, picked up their newborn child, and began talking to God? But when Mary and Joseph heard his words, they marveled at what he said about Jesus (v. 33).

Let’s consider more closely Simeon’s carefully prepared and beautifully expressed words in Luke 2:29–32:

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel.

The “song” begins as an anthem of praise, celebrating the Sovereign Lord who fulfills His promises and blesses His servants. Then it becomes a gospel song, emphasizing the salvation God has provided through His Son, the Messiah. The final stanza is a missionary march, offering God’s salvation to both Gentiles and Jews.

Simeon blessed Joseph and Mary (v. 34a). What did he say? Did he quote the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24–26? Possibly he offered his own blessing; Simeon was good with words. Joseph and Mary were grateful for his good and godly words spoken to and for them (and were probably no longer nervous about this strange man!).

Before he left them, Simeon spoke prophetic words to Mary: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34–35).

Simeon’s life is worth imitating. He lived according to God’s truth, led by God’s Spirit. He knew how to wait actively, anticipating the moment when God would keep His promise. He had just the right words for the moment of Messiah’s arrival, and he had wisdom to help Mary understand her role. Simeon lived his life for Christ and he understood the implications of Jesus’ life and death. Although Simeon met the Messiah for only a brief moment, it was enough. Simeon was satisfied by the goodness, the faithfulness, and the salvation of God in Christ.

 See: Anna, Holy Spirit, Joy, Light, Mary, Messiah, Songs

Songs

The birth of Jesus Christ has been marked from the beginning by joyful praise to the Lord, and the tradition continues today. From Handel’s Messiah to the latest popular tune, the Christmas season moves along on music. However, not every song you hear gives glory to the Lord as do the songs that Dr. Luke recorded in his Gospel. None of the other Gospel writers mention any of these five songs that Luke gives us. Each song is distinctive and reflects the special joys of the singers.

Elizabeth: “Bless the Lord!”

As the wife of Zechariah and the mother of John the Baptist, Elizabeth had much for which to give thanks (Luke 1:41–45). As a woman past the age of bearing children, she was sharing in a miracle from the Lord and was going to bear a famous son. When she heard Mary’s greeting, she was filled with the Spirit and the baby leaped in her womb. She rejoiced at God’s grace and the way He had blessed Mary “among women” (not “above” women) for the Son God had given her, and for the faith He gave her to believe His Word and obey it. It was all of grace! Elizabeth’s focus was on the Lord, a good example for us to follow as we celebrate His birth each year.

Mary: “Magnify the Lord!”

Mary’s song is called the Magnificat, from the Latin version of the New Testament (“My soul doth magnify the Lord” in KJV; translated “glorifies” in NIV) (Luke 1:46–56). She is not ashamed to say that the Lord is her Savior, and she begins with personal rejoicing because of the great things He has done for her (vv. 46–49). She had given her body to the Lord (v. 38; see Rom. 12:1), and now her soul and spirit were rejoicing. First the sacrifice and then the singing was the pattern in the Old Testament (1 Chron. 29:27).

Mary knew that all generations would bless her, not for herself but for what God had done for her and through her. It was God’s mercy and not her merit that brought her this honor, and that mercy is extended to all who trust Him. In verses 50–53, Mary rejoices because the Lord in His grace has turned things upside down. He scatters the proud, dethrones the mighty, and promotes the humble! He feeds the poor and sends the rich away hungry! This is the grace of God through Jesus Christ. In verses 54–55 Mary praises God for His faithfulness to His covenant promises to Israel, for her Son would have a ministry to Israel as well as to the Gentiles (Rom. 15:8–13).

Zechariah: The Theology of Christmas

You would expect an experienced priest to be a theologian and to see in these remarkable events the blessings God was giving to Israel. Like Elizabeth and Mary, Zechariah was filled with the Spirit as he praised God for His mighty works on behalf of the nation (Luke 1:67–79). The coming of God’s Son to earth meant redemption and salvation, the setting free of a people in bondage. Though the Jews wanted political freedom and the restoration of David’s kingdom, spiritual freedom was far more important (vv. 68–75). One day Israel would enjoy kingdom blessings, but first, Messiah had to bring salvation. The last half of Zechariah’s song focuses on the ministry of his son, John, as he would prepare the way for the Savior (vv. 76–79). Zechariah saw in these events the dawning of a new day for people living in darkness and the fear of death. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

The Angels: Glory and Grace

When one angel appeared in glory, it frightened the shepherds; but when an army of angels suddenly appeared and glorified God for His grace, the shepherds believed and went to search for the newborn King (Luke 2:13–14). In His birth Jesus brought many blessings to us, but the main reason for His coming was to glorify God through the salvation of those “on whom his favor [grace] rests.” “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). Three times in Ephesians 1, Paul tells us that God saved us “to the praise of his glorious grace” (vv. 6, 12, 14). God’s grace and God’s glory always go together. Armies usually announce war, but the angelic army (host) announced peace. That is something to sing about!

Simeon: “Do You See What I See?”

We assume that Simeon was an elderly man, for he was looking forward to the time when God would call him home. He belonged to that faithful Jewish remnant that believed the Scriptures, prayed faithfully, and looked longingly for the promised Messiah to come. Then one day Simeon entered the temple and saw the Messiah! (Luke 2:28–32). “For my eyes have seen your salvation” (v. 30). The name Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation.” But Simeon also saw a throne, for he addressed God as “Sovereign Lord.” The English word despot comes from the Greek word translated “Sovereign.” Simeon saw in Jesus the hope of the world, for this gracious salvation was for all people (vv. 30–31). He saw that the “dividing wall of hostility” between Jews and Gentiles would be broken down and that believing Jews and Gentiles would be one body in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:14–18). Finally, he saw that the glory of God that had once dwelt with Israel had now returned to God’s people Israel in the person of Jesus Christ (Rom. 9:1–5).

That’s a great deal to see at Christmas! If we want a truly blessed Christmas, we must see what Simeon saw.

 See: Angels, Elizabeth, Glory, Mary, Simeon, Zechariah

Star

Jesus was born in very humble circumstances, and yet each of the kingdoms in God’s great creation honored Him. The animals welcomed Him into their stable and gave Him a food trough for a bed. The vegetable kingdom was represented by the gifts of frankincense and myrrh, both derived from plants. The mineral kingdom gave up its gold, and shepherds and wise men represented the human kingdom. From the highest heavens the angels came, and from the planetary heavens His star appeared in the east. All creation worshiped the Creator.

For centuries, astronomers have been studying and debating as they have attempted to identify the remarkable star. Some suggest it was the conjunction of two planets, perhaps Jupiter and Saturn; but the Greek word (aster) signifies one star and not a group of stars (astron). Others think it was a super nova that exploded and then faded away. But planets and novae aren’t low enough in the heavens to guide travelers to a specific place, and they don’t move in that fashion. We have to conclude that “his star” (Matt. 2:2) was a miracle of God, a special star assigned to lead the Gentile visitors to Jesus.

The scenario was probably like this. In ancient times people believed that the birth of great men was announced by the stars. These astrologer-priests saw the new star appear in the east and concluded from their studies that it announced the birth of a Jewish king. The logical place to find this king would be in Jerusalem, so they began their journey to Judea and, knowing the route, they didn’t need the star to guide them. Arriving in Jerusalem, they learned that the King would be born in Bethlehem, only six miles away. As they left, they saw the star again and it led them to the very house where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were staying. Warned by God, the wise men took another route home.

God leads people in ways they can understand. The Law of Moses forbade the Jews from meddling with astrology and signs in the heavens, so God spoke to the Jews through His Word (Mic. 5:2); but He used a star to get the attention of the Gentiles. The wise men didn’t stop with seeing the star but pressed on until they found the Savior. The traditional liturgical calendar of the Christian Church assigns January 6 as the date to commemorate this occasion of the Gentiles coming to honor the Savior. It’s called Epiphany, which means “manifestation.”

 See: Epiphany, Herod the Great, Wise Men