who were the shepherds the angels appeared to

There are conflicting articles about their social status but its clear that God saw them as important. From here he kept watch over them all day, making certain that none of the sheep walked away from the others, and if any did escape his notice and wandered away from the rest, he searched tirelessly until he discovered and returned the sheep. A long-time follower of Christ, Danielle lives with her husband in Michigan near her adult children and grandchildren. 11The Savioryes, the Messiah, the Lordhas been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 11For (D)unto you is born this day in (E)the city of David (F)a Savior, who is (G)Christ (H)the Lord. But what was it that facilitated this inner light of faith that allowed the shepherds to recognize the Messiah? The two most well-known appearances are: The angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and giving the message that she was to be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). When the glory of the Lord shone around them, they were struck with fear a reaction that would seem reasonable enough before the overwhelming heavenly light. And the land abounded with these creatures. To be truly changed by this story that is, to go beyond being mere recipients of information about the event of Jesus birth we need to be able to see ourselves within it. It needs to happen. Imagine the ire of his brothers when they watched their lowliest brother become the high king of Israel. Our destinies were restored to us in these Kingdoms, but we were no longer at comfortable in the old dispensation, with a foreign people grasping their gods in their hands. According to popular belief, the shepherds were impoverished, smelly, and ragamuffin. A full fledged "army." The Greek says, ,nor stratia with Saint Jerome using the Latin word militia. Even if they didnt have the strongest education, they wouldve had to memorize the first five books of the Bible in their youth. The Annunciation is a subject that appears frequently in Christmas cantatas. 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. This is due to the fact that the sheep were scheduled to be sacrificed during the Passover celebration. It was the priests responsibility to remain in the Migdal Eder throughout the night. However, it is less customary, though no less accurate, to assert that the Virgin Joseph receives a heavenly annunciation in Matthews Gospel. As for the angel, he isnt mentioned by name in the Bible. God certainly wants every person on earth to know that Jesus Christ came into the world and not only that He came, but also that He died for their sins and rose again to give them eternal life. NLT Everyday Matters Bible for Women, softcover, NLT Giant-Print Personal-Size Bible, Filament Enabled Edition--soft leather-look, rustic brown, NLT Compact Giant Print Bible, Filament Enabled Edition (Red Letter, LeatherLike, Navy Blue Cross), Contemporary Comparative Side-by-Side Bible: NIV/NKJV/NLT/The Message, Bonded leather, burgundy. This Migdal Edar was not the watchtower for the common flocks that pastured on the desolate sheep field beyond Bethlehem, but it lay near to the town, on the route to Jerusalem, as stated in Book 2, Chapter 6 of the Messiahs life. Hope Bolingeris an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, and the author 21+ books. True, but the answer lies beyond just this. This may often be beneficial in terms of broadening our perspective. Excited, they went quickly to find the baby Jesus. How Many Angels Did the Shepherds See on Christmas Day? Is it true that we were guided all the way there forBirth or Death? 9An angel(A) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 2:14, 17; Col. 1:20, [ch. Sometimes, people use a thing called artistic license. The Importance of the Shepherds in the Christmas Story - Crosswalk In a dream, an angel appears to Joseph and assures him that it is acceptable and proper for him to accept Mary as his wife, despite the fact that she is pregnant before they are married. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. If God had picked a monarch or a religious leader instead, the course of events would have been drastically different. 9:6, 7; Hag. 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. The Shepherds and Angels - Jesus Birth Complete History and True Story There is no question that the birth of Jesus was a monumental event. So, the shepherds found baby Jesus wrapped in priestly cloths. Even if they didnt have the best education, they would have been required to memorize the first five books of the Bible while they were children and young adults. In the morning, we descended into a temperate valley, wet and green below the snow line, smelling of flora; with a rushing stream and a water-mill piercing the darkness, and three trees against the black sky, and an old white horse galloping away in the meadow; Once there were vine-leaves over the threshold, six hands dicing for bits of coin at an open door, and feet kick the empty wine-skins as we approached. It was no longer essential to provide animal sacrifices. Luke 2:9 - The Shepherds and the Angels - Bible Hub For you, how does it alter your perspective to conceive God inviting anything you consider to be unwashed in you to have a personal experience with Jesus? They saw and heard the angel of the Lord; They were afraid at first. Still, shepherds were typically seen as untrained or illiterate, which contributed to their negative connotation in Jesus day. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. The Herald Angels Sing The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King;Peace on earth, and mild mercy;God and sinners reconciled! Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mild mercy; God and sinners reconciled! All ye nations rise in joy; join in the victory of the sky; and with the celestial host declare, Christ has been born in Bethlehem! The annunciation to the shepherds is the subject of Nahum Tates well-known carol While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (1700), and the episode is also mentioned in The First Nowell , Angels from the Realms of Glory , and the originally French carol Angels We Have Heard on High , among many other works of literature. It is fairly uncommon for sceneries in the backdrop of a Nativity scene to portray the shepherds on a steep hill, which helps to visually explain their placement above the main Nativity scene. Yes, they were smelly and possibly a little untidy, but they were not the destitute, country-bumpkin farmers eking out a livelihood as weve always been told they were. 1. Dont be afraid! he said. ( Luke 2:8-9) Now in those times shepherds were the bottom rung of the social ladder. Start your free trial today! Apart from the narrative above, we dont have much detailing on the shepherds. How Many? All rights reserved. And while they do not know whats happening at this point, the angel hastens to promise that they need not be afraid, because he brings them news that will cause great joy for all people. In the first place, we know that Migdal Edar was a watchtower that watched the Temple flocks that were being raised to be sacrificed in the Temple. According to Luke 2:8-20, on the night of Jesus' birth, there were humble shepherds in the fields nearby Bethlehem. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Why do you think the angels appeared only to the shepherds when Jesus We do, however, have a Healer and a Provider in our midst. Is this not the awesome mercy of God, who reaches down over us by shrinking his own stature to that of a baby, so that he can touch those not only in the high places but also the weeping wounded and the simple of heart? 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Following this is the concept that Jesus came to these impoverished shepherds because it was Gods intention for him to appear to the least of these, which means the least of these, initially. Instead of opting for a life of wealth and power, he comes from poor beginnings and practices humility all the way to the point of dying on a crucifix. 3. When the angel spoke to them, he informed them about Jesus and his miraculous birth, and he explained how they could recognize him in such a populous town as theirs. 15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby (Q)lying in a manger. What the shepherds were not on the watch for, suddenly appeared: an angel and the glory of the Lord shining around them (Luke 2:9). The story of Jesus' birth is found in Luke 2:1-21. As Luke 2:13-14 states: "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to . Taking prompt action, they say, Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has happened. And then, Scripture says, they hurry to find the baby. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. All of this happened a long time ago, as I recall, and I would do it again, but with a different approach. The shepherds were calmly going about their job when an angel appeared in front of them and told them to be still. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. These four books chronicle the story of the coming of the Messiah, who is also known as Jesus the Christ. One of its regulations states it expressly forbids the keeping of flocks throughout the land of Israel except in the wilderness and the only flocks otherwise kept would be those for the Temple services(Bab K.7:7; 80a) (Bab K.7:7; 80a). Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Animal sacrifices were no longer necessary. If God had chosen a king or a religious leader, the situation wouldve played out very differently. Luke 24:4 So it would appear that, despite the differences in emphasis and main characters between Luke and Matthews birth stories, one central point about Jesus and his birth is the same: this Messiah will be a surprising one, turning upside down many of the expectations of his fellow Jews as he is welcomed and celebrated byand will himself welcome and celebrateritually unclean Jews (the shepherds of Luke) and unbelieving Gentiles (the Magi of Matthew) (the Magi of Matthew). We know they were priests because of the Mishnah. .css-tadcwa:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Anna Krestyn - @media screen and (max-width: 767px){.css-1xovt06 .date-separator{display:none;}.css-1xovt06 .date-updated{display:block;width:100%;}}published on 01/18/13. Mary, on the other hand, saved all of these sayings and pondered them in her heart. For there has been born to you today in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord, who has come to save you from your sins. The shepherds were the first to be notified of Jesus birth and are an important part of the nativity story. Beliefnet presents features angels, angel FAQs, questions about angels Who was the angel who visited the shepherds and How many angels were 2:9; Acts 10:36; Rom. Who Were The Shepherds At Jesus' Birth - Proven Way Jesus would be a King, but not the kind of king people were expecting. They frequently had lambs in the fall and winter, rather than the spring, which is the time of year when most sheep in western nations give birth. They were the first evangelists; They saw Jesus long before the wise men. (Isnt it amazing that such a little word can have so much meaning in the Bible?) Instead, he picks a group of shepherds who set the tone for Jesus life and ministry. This is explained in detail by looking at the tasks of Jewish priests. Luke 2:8-20 NLT - The Shepherds and Angels - Bible Gateway It is generally agreed that the fact that this message was delivered to shepherds, who were believed to be on the bottom rungs of the social ladder in first-century Palestine, is noteworthy. What Is Christmas? No one could have anticipated that such an audience would be the first to hear . Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. What Does the Bible Say about Visiting Graves? The shepherds were modest people; there is some historical evidence that they were even social outcasts, rough characters on the fringe of Jewish society. Instead, they . These were the men who were responsible for the raising of the sacrificial lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple. A Night in the Fields - Israel My Glory The discrepancy can be traced to a disagreement about the Greek text of the New Testament concerning a single letter. Among other things, it was their responsibility to prepare the sheep for the Passover holiday and other Jewish festivities. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Similarly, Jesus calls himself our Great Physician. Often Gabriel comes with messages from God, in the Old and New Testament, and he did give some Christmas tidings to some women prior in the narrative. Her inspirational adult novel Picture Imperfect, which will be released in November of 2021, will also be released. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Pope Benedict reflects on the shepherds vigilance: "The principal difference between someone dreaming and someone awake is that the dreamer is in a world of his own. Mary, on the other hand, retained all of these sayings and pondered them in her heart. Alfred Edersheim, a Biblical scholar who lived between 1825-1889, believed that God had a divine purpose announcing Christ's coming to shepherds first. 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. The angels appeared five times. Angels appeared to these lowly people in the middle of the night to show that Jesus came into the world for everyone: the wealthy and the destitute, the educated and the ignorant, people of every race. Neither did they shuffle toward the baby in the manger, afraid of being exposed in their ugliness. But other times it can distort the truth and, therefore, what we think we know. Yet their posture on that night, as Luke the Evangelist describes it keeping watch over their flocks at night suggests that their hearts may be especially disposed to this announcement. While it is likely that the shepherds were unaware of what was taking place, the angel was hand-delivering a message to them, informing them that the time for animal sacrifice was drawing to a close, and they were the first to find out. From them we should learn not to be crushed by all the pressing matters in our daily lives. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 The shepherds and the angels (Luke 2:8-20) Summary There were shepherds taking care of their flocks at night. Or was the heavenly revelation to these shepherds part of a larger plan with a grander purpose in mind? Who Were the Shepherds? 5 Amazing Details About Their Nativity Role They had a familiarity with the prophecies of this Messiah. THE FIRST EVANGELISTS | OC Catholic While they were waiting for the angels to return, the shepherds decided to visit Bethlehem to see what had happened, which the Lord had informed them about. We dont have to be separated from Him again since He came to earth to be the perfect Lamb, without blemish or sin. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. Find answers to your Bible questions with Bible Gateway Plus. Member-only The Angels' appearance to the Shepherds There were shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. So he chose one of the most humble people in the land to witness the humble birth of our Savior.. Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more. Shepherds and Angels - Bible Hub The shepherds and the angels (Luke 2:8-20) - BBC They werent rags Mary and Joseph brought from home or happened to find in the stable. (Isnt it wonderful how such a small word can convey such a great deal of significance in the Bible?) As a result, they had to have been priests. 1:5, 9; Phil. At the conclusion of the day, we chose to go through the night. 20The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. We may often hear the reason, Because God doesnt care about riches. As a result, he picked one of the most modest persons in the country to be present at the lowly birth of our Savior. True, but the solution entails more than simply this. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. It was just as the angel had told them. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Finally, because of the Roman rule and the bountiful offspring of the Israelites, the population swelled. Jesus Birth Complete History and True Story - Christmas Genius In his gospel, Luke records the visitation of the angels to shepherds immediately after the birth of Jesus Christ. 10And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all (C)the people. Shepherds were also there in the same territory, camped out in the field and keeping watch over their flocks during the night. He does not need to understand it or fit it to his expectations. Sheep are prone to being sunburned or getting tangled in thorny bushes (they are not the brightest of creatures). Who Wrote One Day At A Time Sweet Jesus. It was a priests job to stay in the Migdal Eder all night. Throughout history, the phrase peace on earth, good will toward mankind has been employed in a number of circumstances. (And this taxation was instituted for the first time during Cyrenius tenure as governor of Syria.) (Shepherds were regarded ritually unclean because of their mucking around with sheep and sheep manure, and hence were unable to attend the Temple in Jerusalem to offer the prescribed sacrifices.) Gods sign is that he makes himself small; he becomes a child; he lets us touch him and he asks for our love. There were shepherds in the same country who were camped out in the field and keeping watch over their flock at night. Following their discovery, the statement that had been said to them regarding the kid was widely reported. Like all other Jews, the shepherds would have expected to go to a home of distinction to find the Messiah; a manger would probably be the last place they would have imagined. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord [T]he shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.". 'Suddenly, there was a multitude of the angelic army around the angel, praising God and proclaiming, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men. When the angels flew away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, Let us travel to Bethlehem right now and witness this event that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us. After arriving at the scene quickly, they discovered Mary and Joseph, as well as the infant, who was laying in the feeding trough. 5:11, [ch. Of these four books, just one takes us through the scene of Jesus birth. The following is an excerpt from the Christmas narrative in Luke 2: Shepherds were also out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks during the night in the same region of the nation as well. The focus of Lukes account is on Mary and the shepherds, but the focus of Matthews story is on Joseph and the Magi. The fat tailed (also known as wide tailed) sheep that the shepherds would have been rearing were the sort that would have been raised. It foreshadows the important role Jesus will play as our Good Shepherd. Why did God choose them? Photo courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/rudall30/public domain Author, coach, and speaker Danielle Bernock is a multi-award-winning worldwide author, coach, and speaker who specializes in empowering individuals to accept their worth and heal their souls through the power of Gods love. Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/KristiLinton She is a multi-published author and a graduate of the professional writing program at Taylor University, where she studied creative writing.
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