concerning this child

Luke 2:15-17

"15 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.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child."

These shepherds were given a really big show of light and sound from heaven to announce the birth of Jesus. Out in a field in the middle of NOWHERE in the middle of the night. They hoped for a warrior to lead them in a fight for freedom from their Roman overlords. They desperately needed a SAVIOR! They got a infant born into poverty, placed in a manger. He was not born of a King in a palace. He was not born of a priest in a temple. He was not born of a General to raised on the battlefield to become the hoped-for warrior. No, THE GLORY of the LORD showed up humbly and merely as a infant.

In today's verses the shepherds go to witness this birth they were told about. After that they shared what they knew from the revelations from the angels of heaven. This was powerful testimony from people that were not the most trusted. Sheppards were looked down upon and considered unreliable. It doesn't make sense that God would make the announcement to them... unless, these are the shepherds watching the flocks of sacrificial sheep for the temple. Then, God is notifying them that the sacrifice to END all sacrifices has arrived!!! This will be the finale of temple sacrifices. This really is "...good tidings of GREAT JOY, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE."

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