The story of the shepherds outside Bethlehem is a well-known part of the Christmas narrative. But have you ever thought about the striking contrast between what they encountered out on the hillside with what they saw in the manger?
Meeting the angels
The shepherds would have been used to long nights watching over their flock. Perhaps they were huddled around a campfire that night, exchanging news of the day’s events. Suddenly a bright, heavenly being appears, surrounded by a glorious light! How would you have reacted?
Today, a typical response to unusual events is to whip out our phones and tap ‘record’ on the camera. What the shepherds witnessed 2,000 years ago was certainly a moment worth capturing, but savouring the unique experience was far from the minds of these shepherds.
Their response was the very opposite of excitement: they were terrified. These men who would have been ready to fend off predators, thieves and bandits for the sake of their flock were suddenly petrified in the presence of a solitary angel.
The glory of the Lord
Why was this? Were the shepherds just shocked at such brightness on a dark night? Did they just need time for their eyes to adjust? No. The reason for their terror is explained. The brightness was in fact the ‘glory of the Lord’ shining around them. There was a purity, a godliness, a holiness to this brightness. It was a visible representation of the invisible nature of God, particularly his majestic righteousness, love, and justice.
