Shepherds: From Outcasts to Evangelists

Shepherds: From Outcasts to Evangelists

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Read Luke 2: 8-20. The shepherds keeping watch over their flocks were waiting, too. As Jews they were waiting for the Messiah promised in Isa. 9: 6,7. They were waiting for Jesus to come, but they were waiting for the 1st Advent of Christ the same way most of us are waiting for His 2nd Coming. That is, in a general sense they expect Messiah some vague time or other, but right now, they’re not really thinking about Him. They’re thinking about their sheep.

The scripture does not say that the shepherds were praying or discussing prophecy or studying the night sky for signs and portents. Shepherding is their job and these men are at work. More pressing to them is breakfast, sleep, and their next pay. Just like us.

Luke 2: 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

The night shift routine is interrupted by a divine declaration: “The wait is over! Today is the day that the Savior is born. And guess what, you bunch of regular guys out here working and minding your own business? You are going to be the ones who find Him” (v. 12).

How do the shepherds react? No one shepherd is identified as the leader of the group. So (Luke 2: 15) they decide as a group, “Let’s go see more of this thing God is doing among us. We’ve been kinda sorta waiting for a great move of God. Well, fellas, it looks like we’re in one. Come on, let’s go.”

Luke 2: 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger.

The shepherds did what we should do when the Lord interrupts our daily worries and routines. When you see the Lord move on your job, in your family, or within your circle of influence don’t just go back to business as usual. Gather those around you and seize the opportunity to draw each other closer to Jesus.

You may not consider yourself a Christian leader. The crucial moment may present itself while you have no greater spiritual credentials than the average person around you. So!

You don’t have to be a preacher to lead your circle to Christ. Just listen to the Lord. When God delivers something into your midst that nobody even knew they were waiting for, take the opportunity. Don’t just walk away alone, but invite them, all of them, to come with you. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Often you may have to walk the path of Christ alone, but don’t wait for a solitary moment when God is calling to you in a social one. Grab those you love, say “Let us go,” and then go with haste to seek Jesus.

And look at what God can do for you.

17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

These shepherds arrived in Bethlehem as shepherds, but they leave as the first Christian evangelists. They arrive with no spiritual credentials, but they have a personal encounter with the Savior of the world and they leave sharing the first Christian testimonies--together.

Don’t be ashamed of Christ before your friends.

Matthew 10: 32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Draw closer to Jesus now. Invite your friends to draw closer with you, now. God will show you all something wonderful. On this ordinary day, He can turn you all into something more than you had expected. He’ll give you what you are all really waiting for.

Next: The Wise Men-Following the Evidence