“8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger…16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them…20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
- Luke 2:8-20
What makes you throw your hands up and gets you out of your seat to shout with joy?
Is it your team scoring the winning touchdown? Is it getting the grade back on the test you studied so hard for, or maybe when your tax return hits your bank account?
Shepherds had a great role to play in Jewish culture, but they were often overlooked. As they kept watch over their sleeping flock, everything was about to change. Suddenly an angel appeared with the greatest news the world had ever heard. From the moment Adam and Eve’s sin filled the world with death, angels had been waiting to announce the birth of Jesus and the eternal life He would bring. This was the greatest announcement in the history of mankind! Nobody before and nobody after has ever gotten news like that. They were the first to be told the Savior was born. Look at who God entrusted with that glorious message. I can’t imagine how special the shepherds felt as they found out they were the only ones worshiping around the manger. They were the only ones who got the memo. This news was so epic they couldn’t keep it to themselves. They left the manger and told everyone who would listen. They shouted from the mountain tops. They believed it was their mission to share with the world what the angels had shared with them!
As you hang your ornament, remember, when you understand Who Jesus is and what He came to do, worship that shouts for joy to everyone who will listen is the only normal reaction!