ANTICIPATION: PART 2

The children and most of the women were sleeping.  A few women were having trouble sleeping and they were talking quietly.  Part of the shepherds were sleeping so they would be ready for the shift change. 

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:8

I picture the shepherds walking around and keeping their eyes open for any threat to their herd.  They did not anticipate any problems, but they knew danger could quickly become a reality.  I am sure the shepherds did not anticipate a heavenly choir.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luke 2:8-9

Sore afraid?  Well, duh!  It is dark.  Almost everyone is asleep.  Even the sheep are getting some shut eye.  Then this light surrounds them and an angel of the Lord appears and the scripture says they were “sore afraid.”  Can you say UNDERSTATEMENT?  Can you picture the confusion?  Not one shepherd was anticipating the sky to light up.  Not one shepherd anticipated the angel of the Lord appearing in the sky.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.

Luke 2:10-14

For sure the shepherd’s anticipation and their reality was extremely different.  Fear not.  Good tidings.  Great joy.  A Saviour.  A multitude of heavenly host.  And then, just like that they were gone.  The sky was dark again.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Luke 2:15

It is often asked, “Why a stable?”  Think about it.  If Jesus was born in the inn, would they have let the shepherds in?  Of course not.  They would have turned them away.  BUT, a stable is a place the shepherds were familiar with.  They walked right in.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Luke 2:16-18

The second question that comes up is: Why shepherds?  Think about it.  They traveled around.  They could easily tell what they had seen.  They created an interest in the birth of Jesus.

Anticipation and reality are not the same thing.  The shepherds were anticipating a normal night.  The reality is they met the Son of God.  The Good Shepherd.  The true Shepherd.

And they were the first to spread the Good News.