Hey Church!

On this third Sunday of Advent we will light the “Shepherds’ Candle” to remember the profound and surprising fact that the Savior’s birth was not first announced to nobility, but to humble outsiders. 

Luke 2:8-20

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

In those days, shepherds were regarded as filthy, untrustworthy outcasts of both society and religion. Since they spent all of their time living with sheep, they were not able to maintain their hygiene, let alone keep all the rules and regulations of the rabbis. It is to these most humble and unassuming of characters that God honors with the first announcement of Jesus’ birth. 

Luke tells us that these particular shepherds were working “in the same region” of Bethlehem, which is also known as the City of David. These are the very fields where King David would tend his father’s sheep and sing songs to God under the night sky. That humble shepherd boy was exalted to royalty, and his family line at last bore the Messiah. How fitting that God would choose to announce Jesus’ birth to shepherds on this ancient, hallowed ground. 

The shepherds went “with haste” to find Mary and Joseph, and the newborn baby Jesus lying in a feeding trough. Then they made known the message they had received from the angels: that this baby is the Savior, Christ the Lord, given for all people. After that, they became the world’s first gospel evangelists, glorifying and praising God for what He had revealed to them and sharing the good news with all who would listen. 

“And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them” (Lk. 2:18).

Our opening song this Sunday is specifically selected to help you enter into that sense of wonder. You can listen to “I Wonder As I Wander” below. Please also take time over the weekend to treasure the amazing events of Jesus’ advent and ponder them in your heart. I look forward to worshiping Him with you.