The lamb of God
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2:8-11 (NRSV)
If we had been there in the Judean hills on that special night we would have seen this group of shepherds pasturing their sheep. They were close to Bethlehem, which was called the City of David because it was where David was born and grew up. These same hills were where he looked after his father Jesse’s flock as a boy, and where he was anointed king by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13).
These shepherds would have been well used to keeping ‘the watches of the night’ over their flock as they had done many times before. But this was no ordinary night. Perhaps they lit a fire; the nights were relatively warm, allowing the sheep to graze, but a fire would still be comforting, and would also deter any prowling animals that might have their hungry eyes on the sheep. These were rough men wearing the common clothes of sheepherders, men with coarse hair and beards and rugged complexions. But their rough exteriors hid hearts that were made more tender by years of caring for these woolly and helpless creatures.
Most sources agree that the flock they tended was no ordinary flock, but destined for sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem, just over five miles away. As it mentions in Luke 2, the sight of the angels terrified them and I’m sure it would have scared us too. They not only heard the good news about the Saviour’s birth but were also given a sign, and the sign was “…you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” (v.12). In other words, this baby, even though He is the Messiah, will be wrapped in cloth, just like your own children – but you’ll find this one in a manger!
And indeed that’s what they found. Here, born in the City of David, was another sacrificial lamb destined for sacrifice at Jerusalem, to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Here God became available in a manger, not in a palace or a big house. Common people can’t just walk into a palace, but everyone can visit a manger! As Isaac Watts wrote in one of his hymns: ‘Joy to the world, the Lord has come; let earth receive her King!’ Because of this birth the world would never be the same again. The Saviour’s birth is a message of hope for all humanity, a hope of pardon, a hope of peace with God and a hope of glory!
Prayer
Thanks be to God, for his gift beyond words! In Jesus’ name, Amen
Study by Cliff Neill
About the writer:
Cliff Neill is a Minister in the Hemel Hempstead congregation of Grace Communion International where he is on the leadership team.
Local congregation:
GCI Hemel Hempstead
Adeyfield Free Church Centre
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead HP2 4GZ
Meeting time:
Sunday 10:30am
Hemel Hempstead is also on Zoom, please email congregational contact below to get the link
Local congregational contact:
Shirley McLean
Email: hemel@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church