Nativity Series Part 2 of 6
The nativity blog series is an invitation to “enter into” the manger scene and ponder where you are in relation to Jesus.
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Imagine you’re scrolling on Instagram and up comes a post of all your friends at a party — one that you didn’t know was happening. It definitely would not feel good to be left out like that. This is a more modern form of exclusion, but it wouldn’t have hurt any less being left off the invite list in Jesus’ time. The shepherds in the nativity story may have felt excluded before they received their invitation to Jesus’ otherwise private birthday party.
Picture royalty. What do you see? In my mind, I see lavish living, gifts, and attention. I see people who have multitudes of jewels, others adoring at their feet, and so much power they don’t know what to do with it. If that’s royalty, why would the people low in society get invited to the birth of a king? Shepherds were known for guiding sheep, not their advanced and impressive social skills. Their best friends were sheep, so no doubt they smelled and looked dirty. Now shift this picture to the newborn king whose throne was made of wood and whose royal court consisted of barnyard animals and strangers… It’s not exactly the same. Jesus is a king, yet His entrance into this world was far from regal.
Shepherds may not have been regarded as important in Jesus’ time, but they had an essential role to be the protectors of the sheep they watched over. They would provide care and nurture the sick sheep. Shepherds would also guide the flock to food, water, and places of rest, as well as count each sheep to make sure none went missing. Some shepherds would go so far as to risk their lives for the sheep they watched over. (See any resemblance to Jesus being called “The Good Shepherd”?) The purpose of these shepherds was far greater than most people knew.
If the shepherds in the Gospels had a purpose that no one else could see, then wouldn’t that be true for you too? God sees you. God has always seen you, even when it didn’t feel like it. Look at Isaiah 49:16 — you are engraved on the palms of His hand — or even Jeremiah 1:4-8 — God knew you before you were even born.
In some way, you might relate to the shepherds. Perhaps you feel “insignificant” to God in this crazy, huge world. Maybe you don’t doubt God’s existence but you’ve begun to doubt His interest in yours. Maybe you don’t feel worthy of approaching the King. It’s possible you feel dirty and ashamed, because of past or present sins in your life, and yet, God still wants to be near you. No matter what we’ve done and how far from the “invite” we think we are, God always desires us to be near Him.
The call to the shepherds was God’s way of inviting everyone to take part in the joy and love that comes from knowing Jesus. You could be incredibly holy, or you could be the biggest sinner — there is no difference in God’s desire to be in relationship with you. He simply desires to be with His children, much like how a shepherd desires to be near his sheep.
On that night in Bethlehem, God saw the shepherds. He could see past what made everyone else uncomfortable. God came down to earth for everyone, not just for those “holier than thou.” It reflects the humble coming of Jesus to the earth, that the shepherds, not the kings, would come first to greet the baby born in the manger of a stable. They had nothing to offer, but — to God — their presence was enough. The shepherds felt God tugging on their heart with the invitation from the angel and they took it. Sometimes, all it takes is a heart to be open to God’s constant invitation to you. Openness leads to trust. We can’t fully understand why God does the things He does in our lives, but we can be like the shepherds and accept his invitation. No amount of sin can separate a heart truly longing for God.
There may be a part of you that feels “left out” when it comes to the Kingdom of heaven, but nothing could be further from the truth. The cross of Jesus is your invite to the party. Jesus dined with sinners. He came for the lost sheep, just like a Good Shepherd. Heaven would not be the same without you. You have a piece of God’s heart. Do you feel God tugging on your heart? Are you scared to accept the invitation? The shepherds were petrified at first (see Luke 2:9), but they did it anyway. Will you be open to the Lord and what He has in store for you, even if it makes you uncomfortable or scared? God just needs that first step toward Him. Look at how worthwhile it was for the shepherds to take that step. It’s just as easy to “join the party” with the invitation God has for you.
