“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’” Luke 2:15
Where I live, out in the county, there are no streetlights. When night comes, it gets really dark. I can imagine what a really bright light appearing in the sky would have done to the shepherds–-fear first, then awe.
When the angels gave the message that the Messiah had come, the shepherds were likely wondering why they were the ones to get that message. After all, shepherds were low on the employment ladder.
Although everyone knew a shepherd, not many people wanted to
be one. Shepherds had to tend sheep that were prone to wander from the flock and were prey for wolves and lions. Not only was it dirty work wandering the hills leading, following and directing the sheep, it could be dangerous if the shepherd had to confront some wild animal in order to protect them.
And then, of course, is the fact that sheep are sweet, docile creatures that shepherds would grow to love, only to see them offered up as holy sacrifices.
At night around a campfire, the shepherds had gathered to share the news of the day. Imagine their response after the angels left. They stared at each other in mutual disbelief: did we really see and hear what just happened?
After some discussion among themselves, they went to see this babe of whom they were told. They followed and found the Lord. They then told what had happened to everyone they knew. Have you?
Nancy Davis joined in January 2015. She has a degree in Journalism, so she loves to do creative writing. She also loves watching movies, working crossword puzzles, volunteering, and she spends time cutting shrubbery, especially overgrown vines. (Had a pet sheep when she was a young child.)