It is an unfortunate truth this Christmas that, according to public polling, more Americans than ever before, and in particular young people, feel lonely, spiritually lost, and searching for meaning in a chaotic world. But the story of Christ’s birth and the angel of the Lord’s appearance to a group of shepherds is a reminder of where authentic hope and direction can always be found.
We don’t know much about the shepherds who occupy a central place in the Bible’s account of the birth of Jesus. The Book of Luke tells us that they were the first who heard the good news that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” They then came “with haste” to see Mary, Joseph, and Jesus before spreading word all around about what they had seen.
Dr. Richard Longenecker, an eminent Christian scholar and New Testament expert, has said that these shepherds were probably young men in their early 20s. “The younger shepherds usually took night shifts that required fewer farming skills but physical defense against possible threats,” he explained.
Moreover, we know from historical records that shepherds were far from the top of the social ladder – it was a humble occupation often reserved for those with no better prospects. The first people other than Mary and Joseph to see Jesus were thus likely poor, dirty, and uneducated.
Yet God chooses these men, not renowned religious scholars, kings, or the most respected members of society, to be the first evangelists. In all of the Gospel, there is perhaps no more powerful example of how Christ’s message is for everyone, and that the hope He brings is freely available to all who seek it.
ConservativeChick
Article URL : https://amac.us/newsline/society/the-bethlehem-shepherds-message-of-hope-for-america-this-christmas/