December 16 – The Fourth Heavenly Angelic Birth Announcement of Jesus

Read the rest of the series: December 1 | December 2 | December 3 | December 4 | December 5 | December 6 | December 7 | December 8 | December 9 | December 10 | December 11 | December 12 | December 13 | December 14 | December 15 | December 19 | December 25

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. – ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Once again, Luke records his findings of all that had been accomplished among us. So that the exact truth would be taught of persons, places, and things and would be made known, not just orally, but written and confirmed. This narrative is not a story, as in a fable or fairy tale, but as the definition of a story: A written narrative of a series of facts or events.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. – Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

The angels were sent to these shepherds who were faithfully watching over their sheep. The intent of heaven is to show another fulfillment of Jesus’ coming into the world. Micah prophesied,

And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth; – Micah 5:4

David says, “the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” God refers often concerning His people as His flock, the sheep of His pasture. The need for shepherds, pastors, to see Jesus and to know Him as the Great Shepherd is an awesome responsibility. How they care or not care will be held accountable to God. Poor shepherding is addressed by God in the prophets.

In the Bible, bad shepherds are leaders who fail to care for their people and are instead greedy and self-serving. The Bible describes bad shepherds in several places, including Ezekiel 34, Jeremiah 10:21, and Zechariah 11:15-16.

Nonetheless, it is clear that sheep, God’s people, need a shepherd. Once again, we see a sign that Jesus would be the good shepherd of God. In the scriptures, shepherds are used to represent leaders of God’s people (see Isaiah 63:11; Jeremiah 23:2). Shepherds watch for enemies who might attack the sheep and they defend them when necessary. They tend to sick or wounded sheep and search for and rescue lost or trapped ones. We see the instructions given to the shepherds to come and see, Jesus.

An angel appeared to them and told them not to be afraid as he brought good news, “This very day in David’s town your savior was born – Christ the Lord!” They would find the baby wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger.

So much can be said of this angelic announcement. For this post, I want to point out this word given to them: “Your savior is born, Christ the Lord.” The importance of any pastor or leader in the entrustment of the people of God, to care, is his relationship to Jesus. This must be evident and without doubt and the realization of one’s own salvation being worked out in his own life, and the Lordship of Jesus—He is Lord!

One’s love for Jesus, as Jesus later challenged Peter, concerning his love for Him, is shown by the feeding and care for His, Jesus’ sheep. So the question remains for any pastor, shepherd: Do you live Jesus?

He is the Great Shepherd of God! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus and Glory to God in the Highest!

-Keith Curlee