Christmas Revelation

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-11)."

In my limited time here on earth, I've celebrated some Christmas years as a pagan and some as a Christian.  Knowing the true reason for the season, however, obviously added to the luster of this blessed time.  Countless times, I can remember singing the grand Christmas hymns announcing to the weary world steeped in sin and its destructive power that the true meaning of life was born, Jesus Christ, which lights the sons of men (John 1:4).  This past Sunday at church was no different.  With grateful hearts, our small church sang our lungs out exalting God's most perfect gift to a world alienated from their Creator.  The long-awaited Savior had finally arrived to bring good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

This year, though, my attention was drawn to the role of the shepherds as it relates to the birth of Christ.  According to the Scripture, their life's duties consisted of keeping watch over their flocks.  Sheep need faithful shepherds to guide, feed, water, groom, shear, deliver the young at birth, go after those who wander, and protect those given to their charge.  As this is most certainly true in the natural sphere, how much more noteworthy is it in the spiritual realm.

On that fateful evening, these two domains collided and the role of the lowly shepherd took on a greater meaning and revelation.  The unsuspecting shepherds abiding in those blessed fields were not only the first to be privy to hear the triumphant message of the angel of the Lord and see the gloom of night give way to the glorious light of heaven, but they were instructed with a sign, "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger (Luke 2:12b)."  Immediately, the heavenly choir of angels exploded with the high praise of God declaring, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14)." 

Doubting nothing, the shepherds left their flocks and made haste to see what the Lord had revealed to them.  Sure enough, there He was lying in the manger with Mary and Joseph.  He was also surrounded by more flocks and animals.  All of them, including the Babe in the manger, needed the shepherds to keep watch on this glorious evening.  In this, we see God providential protection that was to go before the Child to safeguard Him unto the appointed time of suffering and death for a world that rejected Him.  But on to those who hearken to His message, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24)."

Yes, the Lamb of God was born, who was destined to take away the sin of the world.  It was altogether fitting and proper that God would reassign shepherds in the field with a heavenly task.  They must leave the ninety nine sheep and go to the one little Lamb who has been born.  They must stand watch and then go to make known and spread abroad the Christmas Revelation, which concerned the birth of Messiah.

Notice that God did not appear and send His angel or the heavenly host to the religious leaders, civil magistrates, or the wealthy elite of Christ's day.  No, he sent them to the lowly, faithful shepherds.  The ones who braved the elements to ensure the safety and welfare of the sheep entrusted to their care.  The Apostle Paul relates this phenomenon with the call of Christians.  He states in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Little did these shepherds realize, but they were the forerunners preparing the way for the promised Shepherd prophesied by Isaiah 40:9-11:

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!  Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

They were sent to prepare the way for the very One that was to grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man to become the Great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls (Luke 2:52; 1 Peter 2:25).  Yes, the supreme Shepherd from heaven was born.  The word was made flesh and to those who have eyes to see, behold His glory (John 1:14)!  It is absolutely true that Emmanuel, God with us, came and the world plunged into the perpetual coldness of winter due to sin, eventually thawed through the radiant beam that shined that first Christmas day (Matthew 1:23). 

Yes, Christ, the hammer of the Lord and the fire of God manifested, breaks in pieces our hard hearts, tenderizes our seared consciences, loosens our stiff necks, and burns away the chaff of our rebellious lives.  What is the divine purpose?  In order for lost humanity to receive the love of God, which is characterized by this glorious testimony, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1)."

Jesus differentiated His vocation as Shepherd from those who went before Him.  Isaiah lamented:

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.  Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.  Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

In stark contrast, The true Shepherd of men came and revealed the essence of His mission:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

In our day, the wolves in our government, schools, media, and culture salivate as they conspire to eradicate the knowledge of God from the public life of our nation.  Together they seek to sever our Christian roots that nurtured the true vine of freedom and turn our nation into communist dictatorship.  Be assured in the midst of this threatened oppression the message of our Great Shepherd, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32)." 

This and so much more is contained in the Christmas Revelation.  It proves that when the world is at its wits end, darkness covers the earth, civil tyranny threatens, and religious corruption prevails, God promises, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2)." 

Yes, He, who created time, matter, and space invaded these realms at the appointed time for His glory and our benefit.  Our challenge is to follow the example of the shepherds and believe God's report, stand watchful, and make God's revelation known to others.  Our captivity is over through the miraculous intervention by a Babe born in a lowly manger 2000 years ago.  If mankind would humble themselves, repent and acknowledge the truth, the sooner the long awaited, illusive "peace on earth and good will towards men" will come to fruition in the mighty name of Jesus! 

This remains our divine task.  In spite of the fierce opposition, go forth, unashamed and without fear this Christmas season to spread the good news of great joy that shall be for all people in every nation.  "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:8-11)."