My favorite part of Charlie Brown's Christmas is Linus quoting from Luke 2. It still gives me chills because insecure little Linus drops that blanket and proclaims the real meaning of Christmas. CBS wanted to cut that part from the movie. Schultz said, "No." Charles Schultz won.
I have read the passage thousands of times over the years. I turned to Luke 2, even before the message began. I have pieces of the passage memorized. Still... something new came alive today.
In this season, many speak of peace, but many want revenge. I am so humbled we have a God who chose redemption and not revenge. As you walk through the Old Testament and arrive at the New, time after time we see "what man intends for harm, God redeems for good."
Why did the angels appear to the shepherds first? They were not the social elite.
The scriptures prophesied that the Messiah was to come from the lineage of King David. David was the great-grandchild of Boaz and Ruth by their son, Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse's son was David. The same David who was left to tend the sheep, while his older brothers paraded before the prophet. Samuel was waiting for God to reveal which one would be King. David was left out.
David's brothers were in the army fighting the Philistines. He was just a boy, but he was a boy who chased the heart of God. He was brave against the predators who wanted to take the lives of his flock. He stood up to wild beasts knowing his little slingshot had to land correctly, or his own life would be in danger. David did not cower. He was the shepherd. Without him, the flock would lose lives.
And David's dad did not think to include him when the prophet asked to see his sons?
The shepherd boy was left out.
I cannot pretend to know the mind of God, but I am always delighted to see the evidence of His heart.
Let's look at some shepherds who came several generations later:
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." -Luke 2:8-9
When the time was right, Emmanuel came. "God incarnate come.", as the Christmas hymn declares.
Who would be the first to hear the Good News? To whom would he send the angels to declare His Son's arrival? (Do you have chills yet?) He chose the lowly shepherds abiding in the field for the angel's announcement and the heavenly choir. Oh what a night!
I have always known that farmers were pretty great at spreading news. Apparently, they can follow directions, too. They found the wee baby King. Laying in a manger, of all things.
Did they feel the wonder and the awe of that night? Did they find themselves wondering if it was anything more than a dream? Oh wait, God provided the first "On-Star" GPS service. He hung a star.
Today, it makes more sense than ever that God would redeem the status of shepherds that night. Jesus is still called, "The Great Shepherd." He gave his life so the lost, forgotten, broken, and weary sheep could be saved. They only need to seek, ask, and open the door of their hearts.
Today, I am grateful for redemption... not revenge.
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