Why The Shepherds?

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.
Luke 2:15-16 

Just a few observations as we approach the day we celebrate the entry of God the Son into this world.

God sent the Heavenly Host to sing the proclamation "Glory to God in the Highest" after the angel told the shepherds where to find the Messiah.  Most depictions of the Shepherds meeting at the manger show only three Shepherds. And later the THREE Wise Men came. I have some difficulty with the Heavenly Host coming to sing God's Glory for only 3 Shepherds.  However, this is why God is God and I am not.

Now, Joseph was a carpenter.  While a respectable occupation is was pretty much on the same prestige level as a Shepherd, and given the fact that Jesus was born in a barn and His first bed was a feed trough....  Consider this: Jesus' lowly birth was so WE would know that HE could identify with us and our struggles.  Had Jesus been born with a silver spoon and lots of servants, we would not be so sure He could (or would bother to) understand our struggles. And remember, Jesus was of the lineage of David.  If you remember, David was a shepherd boy well before he was anointed king of Israel.

After the Shepherds has seen Jesus, they ran through the town telling everyone.  However, Scripture doesn't say anyone else came to see Jesus because of the Shepherds.  And if the townsfolk were anything like some of the "churchfolk" I have encountered over the years, their response would most likely be something like:

 

The greatest moment in history since God spoke creation into being and God chose the Shepherds to receive the message first and to share the message first.  God often uses unusual methods to get His message across.

As we celebrate God's most incredible gift of love found in Christ Jesus our Savior, let us take a moment to thank God for using creative ways to remind us just how much He loves us! 

From my family to yours...God Bless You This Christmas!!!