The Right TimeSample

The Shepherds Believed 

What an example the shepherds are to us. They marveled at the good news of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Their marveling though, much like that of the Magi, motivated the shepherds to action. Luke tells us that they told one another that they should go into Bethlehem to see all that had been told them. They were going to confirm the words of the angel. 

Can you just see it? After the sky had been lit aflame with the angels’ singing, the shepherds looked at each other and then took off like a rocket. The Scriptures say that they came in haste, which is a nice way of saying that they ran as fast as their feet could carry them to get into town. They did not run because they did not believe, they ran like the wind because they did believe. How do we know this? Luke tells us that they said that they wanted to see this thing that had come to pass, that the Lord had made known to them. 

Like Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and the Magi before them, the shepherds knew this was from God. And because they believed God’s word they wanted to see it with their own eyes. By contrast, notice who did not run to confirm the truth of God’s word—Herod and his advisors, who were the ruling class and who never would have allowed lowly shepherds into the palace. 

When the shepherds arrived, they found it just as the angel foretold. Again, can you see it? These stinky, smelly, dirty, outcast shepherds come running into town kicking up a cloud of dust and stop dead in their tracks when they see Mary and Joseph, two simple people, with the Baby resting in a feeding trough. What an incredible sight given to these first witnesses!

Do we run to Jesus? Do we desire to see Him, to be with Him? Many times we can be stinky and smelly, and feel like outcasts, but the shepherds can be a wonderful example to us. They believed what God told them and they ran to Jesus. Why? Because He is the Savior who is Christ the Lord. That is good news of great joy for all people, including us.