“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Lk. 2:8-12

Ever wonder why the Lord sent His messenger (angel) to the shepherds first with the Good News of Jesus’ birth on earth?  That sure wasn’t the way for a “post” to go viral!  Shepherds had no status, no “platform”, no marketing savvy, and no budget.  Even worse, they hung out too remotely for anyone to care about what they said or did. 

But that’s not what the Lord was looking for.  He didn’t want or need fame, fortune, or fancy media techniques.  He found what He needed in the shepherds.  Why?

🐑~They were humble– knowing they had a low status in society, they weren’t too proud to learn, receive grace, or rejoice in truth. It takes humility to get close to God and get in on all the King of the Universe has to offer. 

     ““God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  1 Pet. 5:5; Prov. 3:34

🐑~They were also humble enough to follow instructions without questioning– so they got to see Jesus! 

   “¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”  Lk.2:15-16

🐑~The Lord knew if He let it be known that He had come for the poor and looked-down-on in society (which shepherds were), everyone would know HE CAME FOR EVERYONE! If He (through His messenger) came to the “high and mighty” as expected, the “low and weak” would assume, as usual, that they didn’t belong in such lofty circles. But this way, no-one would feel they weren’t good enough for Him.

🐑~The shepherds represent the Lord Himself– our Good Shepherd– Ps. 23; Jn. 10:11-15 tell us: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing…”; and “I am the Good Shepherd—I know My sheep and My sheep know Me…I lay down My life for the sheep…” Shepherds guide, provide for, and protect their flock.  The Lord does the same with His flock—those of us who join His “sheepfold” 🙂

🐑~They had time and hearts ready to listen to the Lord without distraction—out there in the midst of His creation, with no “noise” to crowd their minds —no places to go, people to see, over-busyness, media to check, etc.  They could tune in to Him and get a clear signal. 

🐑~They wouldn’t be sheepish about sharing the Good News! 😃😃  And, in the end, the message actually did “go viral”—news that’s truly great never stays secret—the word got out because the Word came in—God With Us, “Immanuel”, came to dwell with us on earth for a while—to save us and restore relationship with Him!

     “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,” Lk. 2:17

How about us? Now that the Good News has spread around the world, how are we responding and spreading it?