The Awe of Shepherds and Angels
Reading the Word: Luke 2:1-21
The angels appear to shepherds
Among created beings, you don’t get much more glorious than an angel. They can worship before the throne of God and sing praises to Him. When they appear on earth, the glory of the Lord shines around them (2:9).
And for the Israelites, you don’t get much lower than a shepherd. They were not exalted. They were working-class poor, “have-nots” who serve those who have.
Yet shepherds and angels meet when Jesus is born. God sends his heavenly messengers to lowly shepherds. Not to kings. Not to priests. To shepherds. The angels sing for joy (2:14), and the shepherds join in the excitement (2:15).
And they all – whether shepherd or angel – understood that this night and it’s eternal significance was not about them. The angels didn’t draw attention to themselves, but told about Jesus. And the shepherds then did not feel proud because of the heavenly revelation they’d been given. They told others about Jesus (2:17).
Jesus puts angels and shepherds on level ground. He alone is exalted.
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