Journey to Bethlehem – Shepherds

Steven Lake Posted on Posted in Life Well-Lived

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’”  Luke 2:15

Introduction:

All work is honorable to God, but in our society some jobs have more status than others. According to the National Opinion Research Center a member of the President’s Cabinet is the most prestigious occupation, ranked even higher than physicians. The least esteemed career is working in a shoeshine stand.

In ancient Israel serving as an advisor to the King was also a very prominent profession. Among the least desirable vocations was to be a shepherd. Both ends of the social spectrum came to Bethlehem to worship the newborn King. But the shepherds came first.

In-depth – The shepherds were …

Faithful

  • Living in the fields near Bethlehem watching their flocks at night.

Terrified

  •      An angel appeared to them, and God’s glory filled the night sky.
  •      The shepherds were terrified! But the angel said …

– Do not be afraid. Good News -> Great Joy -> All people

– The Messiah has been born tonight in Bethlehem.

– You’ll find him wrapped in cloths lying in a manger.

  •        A great company of angels appeared praising God:  Glory to God in the highest; peace on earth
    to those in whom God delights.

Obedient

  •        Let’s go to Bethlehem and see the Messiah.
  •        They hurried off and found Mary, Joseph and the baby.

Evangelistic

  •        They spread the word about what they had heard and seen.
  •        All who heard them were amazed by these events.

Worshipful

  •        The shepherds returned to the fields praising God for everything.

Conclusion:

Shepherds had a thankless job. The rest of their society looked them down on. They spent long hours outdoors in solitude braving the elements. Their main companions were dumb, stubborn, independent and ornery animals, who were as needy as the shepherds, and just as smelly. But God chose them to announce the birth of His Son, and they were the first people outside the family to see Jesus.

Prayer:

“Lord, Sometimes I feel so unimportant and irrelevant. In those moments help me to remember Your love for the insignificant and overlooked shepherds. Amen.

© 2013 Steven A. Lake

About

Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.