I
find it interesting, that two of the most well known shepherds in all of history
come from the same area of the world, Bethlehem ,
the City of David
I’m
sure the life of a shepherd could be quite boring at times. Just sitting on a hard rock or leaning with
our back up against the rough bark of a tree watching a herd of sheep munch
grass. It had its occasional bouts of
excitement when a wolf or lion tried to steal a sheep, or when there was a
search and rescue mission for a lost little lamb, but I don’t think it could
have ever been very exciting – until that night, the night when God’s angels
burst through the darkened sky to declare the good news.
I’ll bet they talked about it until the day
they died. I’m sure their children and
grandchildren who sat out on those same rocks dreamed about something like that
happening to them. It must have been
exciting. They knew they were really
part of something big, but could they comprehend just how big?
The
Bible says they went and saw Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, and then went
back to their sheep praising God and thanking him for letting them see all of
it – for it had been just as the angels had told them. They were excited. They had seen the baby Jesus, the Lamb of the
world, but did they see the eternal Savior?
Did they see in that manger God’s plan for man’s redemption?
Or, was it years later when they stood among
a crowd of people trying to hear what the man was saying; the man some were
calling the Messiah, that their minds went back in time. “Could it be the baby from so long ago?” Did his eyes meet theirs when he said, “I am
the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep”? I wonder if maybe on that particular day the
shepherds heard, “I bring you good tidings of great joy. I am your Shepherd, your Savior.” Did they hear the angels singing again that
day, the day they bowed down to the little Lamb who had become their Shepherd?
Get your free Advent devotional at www.ezdevotions.com
No comments:
Post a Comment