Luke 2: 6 – 18 TPT
That night, in a field near Bethlehem, shepherds were watching over their flocks. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him by this miraculous sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in the feeding trough!”
Then all at once in the night sky, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven! And they all praised God, singing:
“Glory to God in the highest realms of heaven!
For there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.”
When the choir of angels disappeared and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word who is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.” So they hurried off and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a feeding trough.
Upon seeing this miraculous sign, the shepherds recounted what had just happened. Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was astonished by what they were told.
The Christmas story never gets old. This was taken from the Passion Translation and shows a little more of the astonishment of the occasion. I am sure there are no words which could describe what people experienced during this time, though.
I want to leave you with a few thoughts. First, it is not an understatement to say that shepherds were regarded as lowly. They stayed out in the fields and smelled like their flocks. So, it is interesting that the host of angels should appear to such lowly folks. The reason is so that none of us can deny our own position in the kingdom. If God saw fit to appear to the lowliest of all people, then we are assured access as well.
Second, this good news, this miracle, is for all people. Those are important words and are still playing out. What began as an Israelite miracle, has transformed the entire world and continues to. This great savior is for all and what great news is that? Even as the shepherds heard the good news, foreign wise men began their trek, men who were not Israelites but you journeyed to offer expensive gifts to the king. Wow!
Third, the word the shepherds used regarding going to see this “miracle” was “rhema”. They said, let us go to Bethlehem and see this “living Word”. That is so amazing. You “Word” people should be shouting right now as I know my Jewish friends are. The shepherds heard what the angels were saying, that The Living Word of God had come in human form to save the world. Glory to God! I pray this fills your heart with great joy!
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