Access 50+ premium resources. For today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you, and his name is Christ the Lord. The shepherds didnt run and hide in fear or pride of their own dirtiness, their personal sins and shames. Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/KristiLinton She is a multi-published author and a graduate of the professional writing program at Taylor University, where she studied creative writing. We dont have to extend our suspension of disbelief very far to realize that they didnt have a particularly glamorous career. In addition, see here for a manuscript comparison tool, Douay-Rheims Bible online (Luke 2), from the Latin in terra pax in hominibus bonae voluntatis., See alsohere for a comparison of many other translations. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. We are all familiar with these verses since it is a family custom in many households to recite this tale every year around the time of the Christmas season in order to remind us of the actual meaning of the holiday season. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. Lets look at the story as written in the Bible to see what we can know about the shepherds. Rembrandt The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds (The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds, 1634). This seems to suggest that the moment the angels decided to appear to the shepherds, they did not stop to consider the ramifications. The Shepherds and Angels - Jesus Birth Complete History and True Story There is no question that the birth of Jesus was a monumental event. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. But here's what is interesting - God sent his angels with this news not to the Bible scholars or teachers, not even to the priests, prophets or kings, but there were shepherds out in the fields nearby and the Angel of the Lord appeared to them! Abrams III)) Im not sure how much of this commentators assertions can be verified, but its an intriguing point to explore anyway. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. Start your free trial today! Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. 11Today in the town of David a Savior(C) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(D) the Lord. What was it about the Shepherds that made them the first individuals to learn of Jesus birth? Do you find yourself pulled more to Lukes accounts of Jesus birth than you do to Matthews accounts? According to Nibley, this statement is clarified by the fact that he is encircled on all sides. In a similar vein, Lehi depicts God as being seated on his throne surrounded by countless concourses of angels who are in the attitude of singing and worshipping their God. In addition, Nibley reminds out that a concourse is a circle. Of course, concourses is an abbreviation for circles inside circles. Similar imagery pertaining to holy circles may be seen in the Islamichajj, during which pilgrims circumambulate theKabah and offer prayers in the form of angels, among other things. The angels appeared five times. "Don't be afraid!" he said. We need to encounter a way that compels us to go beyond a passive annual re-acquaintance with the familiar and at times, perhaps, even tedious elements of the Christmas story. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. He does not need to understand it or fit it to his expectations. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. What the shepherds were not on the watch for, suddenly appeared: an angel and the glory of the Lord shining around them (Luke 2:9). As the story goes, the shepherds returned, worshiping and thanking God for everything they had heard and seen, exactly as it had been told to them. (WEB) The most common narrative we hear about these shepherds is that they were impoverished and filthy. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Why Is it Important to Remember That Jesus Was Jewish? This is the third edition of the Greek New Testament. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been to. Her inspirational adult novel Picture Imperfect, which will be released in November of 2021, will also be released. It was their job to prepare the sheep for Passover and other Jewish ceremonies. And yet, the very familiarity of Christmas presents a problem for us namely, the loss of the seasons power to move us. Still, shepherds were typically seen as untrained or illiterate, which contributed to their negative connotation in Jesus day. The New Testament begins with the four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Edersheim says the shepherd's job description offers us a clue: "These men who watched the sheep meant for the slaughter received a divine message about the ultimate . If the appearance of a single angel was not enough to scare the shepherds, a large number of angels suddenly appeared, joining the original angel, and praising God. In addition, it foreshadows how Israel would regard the Good Shepherd in the future. All rights reserved. It was just as the angel had told them. Sheep can often get sunburned or run into a scraggly bush (they arent the brightest of creatures). From them we should learn the inner freedom to put other tasks in second place however important they may be so as to make our way towards God, to allow him into our lives and into our time. Pope Benedict reflects on the shepherds vigilance: "The principal difference between someone dreaming and someone awake is that the dreamer is in a world of his own. Like sheep, we can often find that we bruise or cut easily. These shepherds are the literal first witnesses of Jesus birth, apart from the animals in the barn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 11. The Song of the Angels to the Shepherds near Bethlehem - Bible Hub Instead, he picks a group of shepherds who set the tone for Jesus life and ministry. All rights reserved. (Shepherds were regarded ritually unclean because of their mucking around with sheep and sheep manure, and hence were unable to attend the Temple in Jerusalem to offer the prescribed sacrifices.) Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! There are nativity scenes, Christmas carols, and Christmas plays that interpret the story of Jesus birth for us. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. Given that the shepherds were in the fields on a consistent basis, they were most certainly filthy, but they were not a group of impoverished shepherds. Or was the heavenly revelation to these shepherds part of a larger plan with a grander purpose in mind? 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. Secondly, the youngest boy of the family often ended up in the role of a shepherd. 12And (I)this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby (J)wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel (K)a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14(L)Glory to God (M)in the highest,(N)and on earth (O)peace (P)among those with whom he is pleased![a]. Animal sacrifices were no longer necessary. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. As a result, he picked one of the most modest persons in the country to be present at the lowly birth of our Savior. True, but the solution entails more than simply this. It is the time when we are most truly alive, when we live our humanity to the full (Ibid). The shepherds, humbling themselves and becoming little, entered the Christmas story in a way that fulfilled the promise of the angel. From my family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas! Although there are different reports about their social standing, it is apparent that God considered them to be significant. 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.. The last word of the text is in thegenitivecase, which means on earth peace to men of good will, and it is in thegenitivecase because it is in thegenitivecase because it is in thegenitivecase because it is in thegenitivecase because it is in thegenitivecase because it is in thegenitivecase because it is in thegenitive (apparently reflecting a Semitic idiom that reads strangely in Greek). 2:9; Acts 10:36; Rom. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. His self is locked into this dreamworld that is his alone and does not connect him with others. For you, how does it alter your perspective to conceive God inviting anything you consider to be unwashed in you to have a personal experience with Jesus? 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.16. A: God certainly wants every person on earth to know that Jesus Christ came into the world and not only that He came, but also that He died for their sins and rose again to give them eternal life. (To see a bigger version of this image, click here.) But when Jesus was born, it was only the first step in God's plan of salvation. After all, it takes the Magi (kings) two years to get to Bethlehem from their home in Egypt. Understanding History, Origin and TraditionsThe History of Santa Claus: Origin of St. Nicholas & Christmas TraditionsBeautiful and Inspiring Christmas Prayers, The Beautiful Meaning and Purpose of AdventAdvent Wreath & Candles - Understanding the History, Meaning, and TraditionThe History and Meaning of the Advent Calendar. But, no matter how you look at it, they were still shepherds. Yet their posture on that night, as Luke the Evangelist describes it keeping watch over their flocks at night suggests that their hearts may be especially disposed to this announcement. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Many individuals find the emphasis placed on the virgin birth to be difficult to comprehend and accept. Author December 09, 2022 The accounts of Jesus' birth in the gospels includes a number of references to angels, often referred to by us now as the Christmas angels. Yes, they were smelly and possibly a little untidy, but they were not the destitute, country-bumpkin farmers eking out a life as weve always been told about them. They thought highly of themselves and loved religion more than having a relationship with God. As a result, following the founding of Temple worship in Jerusalem, the fields outside of Bethlehem were transformed into a specific group of shepherds who were responsible for raising the lambs that were slaughtered in the Temple. How Mary and Joseph got the cloths is unknown, but theologists speculate they were from the priest, Zacharias, whose wife, Elizabeth, is Marys cousin. 1. 8 There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. Amid the silent bleakness of the shepherds watch comes the herald of joy, the voice of the angel. We may often hear the reason, Because God doesnt care about riches. However, there are situations when it can distort the facts and, as a result, what we believe we know. Luke 2:11 is a biblical quotation. Finally, out of nowhere, the angels of heaven arrived to bring the most incredible news in the history of news: the birth of a new world religion. Nativities scenes, Christmas songs, and Christmas plays are all examples of ways in which we might learn about Jesus birth from the Bible. 19But (R)Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Lets dive into these questions and more. Jesus would be a King, but not the kind of king people were expecting. Sheep are prone to being sunburned or getting tangled in thorny bushes (they are not the brightest of creatures). Shes writtenEmerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn,Loves Manifesto,Because You Matter, and hosts theVictorious Souls Podcast. It was their responsibility to ensure that none of the animals were injured, harmed, or blemished throughout the process. Another statement in the Mishnah says that the Messiah would be revealed from the Migdal Eder, which translates as tower of the flock. It was an actual tower that stood just outside town and within the Temple priests fields. Mary, on the other hand, retained all of these sayings and pondered them in her heart. Why did the angels appear to shepherds, rather than to priests or This will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Lk 2:12; cf. Check out her books at hopebolinger.comfor clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. The shepherds were the first to be notified of Jesus birth and are an important part of the nativity story. (See Luke 2:8-20 for further information.) What else should we know about these characters that can help enhance our understanding of the passage found in Luke 2? When they saw it, they immediately shared the statement that had been shared with them regarding this kid. They were the earliest evangelists, and they were the first to see Jesus, long before the three wise men. New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations [NSPPD] || 6th - Facebook THE PRONOUNCEMENTS Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. After the shepherds saw Jesus with their own eyes, the Bible says they returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen (v. 20). Author Eugene Peterson wrote in his book,The Message,that the shepherds let loose, glorifying and praising God. Knowing the Savior of the world has come should move all of us to let loose with our praise. Like the shepherds, Israel looked down and scorned Jesus. It does, after all, take the Magi (kings) two years to make the trek to Bethlehem. When the glory of the Lord shone around them, they were struck with fear a reaction that would seem reasonable enough before the overwhelming heavenly light. It was a priests job to stay in the Migdal Eder all night. These were the men who were responsible for the raising of the sacrificial lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. Shepherds were out in the fields at night, keeping watch over their flocks, according to Luke 2:8-18, who recorded this. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. From my family to yours, I wish you and yours a very happy Christmas! You may wonder about the prevalence of angelic beings in the story of Jesus' birth and their significance in Scripture. In other words, they were not sent there specifically to get a glimpse of God. The shepherds were merely instructed that they would discover the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger by the angels, and that was it. Listen, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people!" The angel's words painted a picture of the glorious presence of the promised Redeemer. A short look at the responsibilities of Jewish priests reveals everything. 16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. The proclamation that a savior has been born for you is a message before that compels us to take a position. 10 The shepherds and the angels (Luke 2:8-20) Summary There were shepherds taking care of their flocks at night. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But there were some shepherds in the region lodging there and they kept the nightly watch over their flocks; Contemporary English Version That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. (Isnt it amazing that such a little word can have so much meaning in the Bible?) We do, however, have a Healer and a Provider in our midst. Annunciation to the shepherds - Wikipedia Advent happens over and over again (Kreeft, Peter. When the angel of the Lord appears to them and informs them of the coming of the Messiah, their normally evening responsibilities are thrown into disarray. A similar scene is depicted in theNativity at NightofGeertgen tot Sint Jans, when the shepherds are seen the annunciation from a hillside via a gap in the stable wall. The shepherds and the angels (Luke 2:8-20) - BBC And what a fantastic method in which they learned about it! We dont know who they were by name, nor how many there were. Bill Rich is a writer and entrepreneur who lives in the United States. He is no longer a distant entity, known from afar, but truly close to us. But what was it that facilitated this inner light of faith that allowed the shepherds to recognize the Messiah? Save on the BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for . We need a way to interpret the story that allows us to enter into it, recognizing that it happens not only once, in history, but also many times in each individuals soul. Why did God choose them? 10And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all (C)the people. But when Jesus was born, it was only the first step in God's plan of salvation. I should feel relieved that another death has occurred.
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