angels – From The Overflow

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Special things sure have a way of losing their sparkle when they grow familiar.

That shiny new car can quickly get all banged up without a second thought after awhile.
New sneakers get all the scuff marks scrubbed out initially. But before long that crisp white fades to a sad beige hue.
And the Christmas story can easily become a snooze-fest after we’ve heard it a zillion times.

If you’re familiar with the Christmas story, then you know how difficult it can be to find new meaning amongst the hustle and bustle, and the tinsel and twinkle that inevitably comes with the Christmas season. Going through the motions can numb us to the true wonder of it all.

Well in recent years, I’ve been intentional about finding ways to engage with the story of Christ’s birth at Christmastime.

Here’s the pro tip: Plant yourself in the story!

Not as Tina, an obscure writer with a good sense of fashion and a humble sense of humour. Not even as a fly on the wall, or a third-party observer.

But as one of the many people we encounter in the biblical accounts of God becoming a human and making His home among us. (John 1:14)

There are lots of people in the Christmas story, but this year I was especially drawn to the shepherds. Theirs is one of the more well known of Christmas stories, so it’s a good one to explore together.

The Shepherds

You can read the full account of the angel and the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20.

When I do, I imagine myself as a shepherd, hanging out with my sheep and fellow herders. I plant myself in the story, gather the facts, and ask reflective questions.

So let’s try this exercise together!

First, gather the background facts.
Here are some important things about shepherds:

Shepherds were fringe members of society in every way.
Their work forced them towards the outskirts of towns where their sheep could graze freely.
Their work was filthy and undignified, which meant that respectable members of society looked down on shepherds.
In fact, most members of society avoided associating with shepherds altogether.

Second, gather the story details.
Here is the gist of the shepherds’ part of the Christmas story:

Shepherds were up in the middle of the night watching over their sheep.
Out of nowhere (the Bible uses the term suddenly!), an angel appeared in the sky announcing the birth of the Messiah in King David’s town, and instructions on where to find Him.
An army of angels then joined the angel glorifying and praising God, and proclaiming peace on those whom God favours.
When the angels left them, the shepherds resolved to go find this baby immediately and hurried off to do so.
Once their eyes confirmed what the angel had said, they hurried off again to tell everyone they could about the birth of the Messiah.
Finally, anyone who heard their report was amazed.

Let’s reflect on this together.

Would the angelic announcement of the Messiah’s arrival inspire the same reaction if I had been among the shepherds that day?

Additionally,

Do I believe that the angel’s announcement is actually good news, like they said?
Do I believe it’s meant to bring great joy to all people? Why, or why not?
If God’s incarnation (meaning: God, coming to earth) really is good news to me, then does my reaction to this good news mirror the shepherds’?
Do I share their sense of urgency to tell anyone and everyone about this good news?
Did it change anything for me, the way it changed everything for them? Why, or why not?

After having reflected on these as a way of connecting with the story more personally, I ask a few more WHY questions.

But instead of WHY questions to myself, I like to ask God.

Disclaimer: My constant desire is that what I read in the scriptures will tell me more about God. About His character, His will, His purposes, the way in which He works in and through our world. The Christmas story is no exception!

Here are some of my Why God questions about the angel and the shepherds:

God, why did you choose to make this epic, angelic announcement to the fringe of society?
God, why not announce this important news to the religious leaders (Pharisees), political leaders (kings, governors), or even influential persons (scribes, intellectuals, wealthy businesspeople)?
God, why in the middle of the night?

Here’s what we can learn about God by asking these questions:

God announced the birth of His Son through the angel to the shepherds because the shepherds had nothing to lose. They were already rejected, unpopular, among the least important members of society.
Their reaction was enthusiastic and pure. They trusted the angel’s announcement at face value, and – if I had to speculate – did exactly what God would have wanted in response: which is to go and tell everyone!
In contrast, God did not choose the highest members of society to be the first to know that His Son, the Messiah, had entered the world because they probably would not have responded as the shepherds did. God wanted the news of His Son’s arrival to spread, and fast. The shepherds did so with no inhibition.
The religious elite would likely have responded with scepticism. I believe this because of the way they respond to Jesus throughout the His earthly ministry as documented in all four gospels.
The political leaders would likely have responded in fear, as exhibited by King Herod in Luke 2:3 where it says he was greatly disturbed at the news.
And any other influential persons would likely have responded with the same dejectedness we see this in the rich young ruler who realized what he’d have to give up to follow Jesus. (Mark 10:17-27)

All of these reactions, although speculated, tell us a lot about God. He isn’t out to impress the best of the best. He made Himself small, like a baby. Brought Himself low, like a member of the lower class. Born in a barn so that anyone can reach Him. Born in obscurity. Basically anonymous. Unknown. Common. Ordinary.

And the middle of the night? Well, that’s easy. The darkness is where God always meets us! When we were still sinners. Children of darkness and sin. That’s where He reaches down to pull us up. He doesn’t wait for us to claw our way to the light, or somehow clean up our act well enough to be worthy of Him. Because that’s impossible.

My favourite children’s Bible The Jesus Storybook Bible says,

As silent as snow falling, He came in. And when no one was looking, in the darkness, He came.
– Sally Lloyd-Jones

It’s all part of God’s upside down kingdom. Changing the world through a baby. Announcing His arrival to the fringe of society, to lowly shepherds, in the middle of the night. Because if He came to the best of us, the rest of us could never reach Him. And that’s what’s so magical about Christmas. We don’t have to. Because He came down to reach us.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

What’s in the Ears

If you know me, you know it was nearly impossible to narrow down a Christmas song for this week. I tried real hard. This isn’t even a Christmas song but it’s on the new Maverick City Christmas album and it brings me ALL the way back to my high school choir days from the 90s. Hope you enjoy!

Friend, may you have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by loved ones, and FILLED with God’s love. Anything else is gravy. Thank you for concluding From the Overflow‘s second year with me. I love connecting with you here. God bless you.