A Shepherd’s Christmas: A 5-Day Plan Through Luke's Account of the Birth of ChristNäide

Day 1: The Truth About a Shepherd’s Christmas

When you picture a nativity scene, chances are you see shepherds standing quietly in the background. They are usually small figurines, holding staffs, with sheep gathered around them. To us, they may seem like extras in the Christmas drama. However, in Luke’s gospel, shepherds aren’t background characters; they are front and center.

The historian and physician Luke offers the most detailed account of Jesus’ birth in Scripture. Of all the people in Israel, why would God choose shepherds to be the first to hear the news? Shepherds were often poor, marginalized, and viewed as unimportant in society. They lived outdoors, moving from place to place, caring for animals that usually belonged to someone else. Yet God sent his angel to them first, announcing the birth of the Messiah.

This detail reminds us that Jesus came not just for the powerful, the wealthy, or the religious leaders, but for everyone, including the poor, the humble, and the overlooked. The shepherds’ story confirms that the world's Savior was born for people of every race, culture, and social status.

Christmas can be a season full of distractions—shopping lists, travel plans, and traditions that sometimes overshadow the meaning of the holiday. But just as God interrupted the shepherds’ ordinary night with his extraordinary glory, he can interrupt our holiday season with his presence if we let him. The shepherds’ example calls us to pause, listen, and be ready to experience God’s message of hope.

The shepherds were not chosen because of their greatness. They were chosen because God delights in using ordinary people to carry extraordinary news. And in that, we find encouragement for our own lives. God can use us, right where we are, to reflect his glory and share his truth with others.

This Christmas, instead of letting the busyness crowd out God’s presence, let’s approach the season with the heart of a shepherd: humble, attentive, and ready to respond to the good news of Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

1. Why do you think God chose shepherds to hear the good news first?
2. What distractions might keep you from noticing God’s presence this season?
3. How can you be intentional about treasuring Jesus in the middle of holiday busyness?