Fear Not! Gabriel and the Shepherds
“Now there were in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping their flocks by night.”
That statement indicates that the birth of Jesus most likely happened in the spring around late March. Joseph was able to find a place to stay and for Mary to give birth to Jesus because the sheep were out in the fields with their Shepherds.
In the cold months such as December, Shepherds kept their flocks in rooms in the back of their homes. The most profitable sheep were those without spot or blemish. These were used as ritual sacrifices and were required to be pure and spotless. To accomplish this, they were wrapped in linen wrappings known as swaddling. Swaddling prevented scratches or injury.
Dr. Luke reported that according to the eyewitnesses he interviewed, the baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling, which would have been readily available in the stable.
Note the similarity. Jesus, who was the spotless lamb of God, was wrapped in swaddling clothes at His birth. Pretty cool, huh?
Here is the deal about no room in the Inn. People had rooms in front of their houses for sleeping and gathering.
The town was full of people there to be counted in the census. Family or friends or other travelers occupied every one of the front rooms in the house. Since the homeowners would board lodgers, the homes were designated as “Inns.”
Because of this, Mary and Joseph and their baby were relegated to the back rook of the house where the sheep and other animals would have been housed in the winter to keep them warm.
It makes perfect sense that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling as it would have been kept in the stable. Think of this Jesus was swaddled and became the spotless lamb of God, which was the only acceptable sacrifice to God.
THE SHEPHERDS WATCHING OVERTHEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT.
“And in that vicinity, shepherds were living out under the open sky in the field, watching in shifts over their flock by night.”
The shepherds were hired based on their strength and courage. It was a capital offense to leave the sheep without guard for one second. Thieves and wolves roamed around wherever the sheep were. A herd of sheep was like a bank vault to a thief and a four pound lobster with drawn butter and lemon to a wolf.
Diligence was absolutely necessary. Wolves could smell the sheep from miles away. The shepherds had to be so physically fit and athletic that they could kill a wolf or a thief.
The shepherds wore their mantle (title) with great pride and would never ever, for any reason, put their reputations at stake.
Get this part settled in your mind. These shepherds would be called rednecks today. They were not educated and knew nothing of the world outside of theirs. They had never heard a radio, seen a picture, seen television or a hologram or a movie or a DVD or listened to a CD. They had never used a cell phone. Remember that as you read on.
“And pay attention! “An angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shown all around them. And they were sorely afraid.”
Really? Isn’t that surprising? They all probably died and were resuscitated by Gabriel. Go back for a moment and re-read (Daniel 10: 5&6). In that scripture, Daniel describes in detail the breath-taking appearance of Michael. Surely Gabriel was just as astonishing.
“And the angel said to them, do not be afraid.” (No prob Gabe, just give me some dry clothes and I’ll be right with ya.)
Pay Attention! God’s personal messenger, Gabriel, is about to describe the Gospel of Jesus in a nutshell.
“FOR I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH WILL BE TO ALL PEOPLE.”
Few know or ever think about those profound words. If what you are hearing is not: “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY.” It is NOT the Gospel of Jesus.
What is the good news of great joy?
Our sins are forgiven.
Jesus loved us all so much that He bought our eternal life with His blood, so that Whosoever believes in Him will never die, but will have everlasting life in heaven with Him
We now live by grace: (God’s willingness ability and power that has done for us those things that we can not or will not do for ourselves), through faith. (Living in this present moment celebrating having received the great and precious promises of Jesus, regardless of what we see, hear, touch, taste, or smell.)(John 3:16, John 6:28-29, Ephesians 2:8-12, Romans 5:1-4)
Jesus freely gave us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, including His faith and all of His great and precious promises, so that we now do not need to ask Him for anything. (2Peter1:1-4)
Jesus gave us His power. (John 14:12-14)
Jesus gave us the ability to speak things into existence. (Mark 11:22-24)
Jesus healed all of our diseases, infirmities, illnesses, maladies, sicknesses, and mental disorders by carrying them in His body on the cross. Yes, Jesus died from every disease known and unknown to man on the cross. (Matthew 8:16-17, Isaiah 53:4, Psalm 103:3, 1Peter2:24)
Jesus threw satan to earth like a bolt of lightning and gave us dominion over him, all of his and all of his powers. (Luke 10:18)
Jesus gave us the power to receive multiplied financial prosperity. (Luke 6:38, 2Corinthians 9:6-14)
BACK TO GABRIEL AND THE SHEPHERDS…
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David (Bethlehem) A SAVIOR WHO IS JESUS THE KING!”
“And this shall be a sign unto you: you will find A BABE wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.”
The angel encouraged the shepherds to go and see the Baby Jesus. They did just that, ignoring the horrible consequences that would come to them if they were caught leaving their sheep unattended.
See this in the theatre of the mind! If they didn’t soil their britches and fall dead when Gabriel showed up, this next scene would surely have that effect on them.
“And suddenly, there was with Gabriel, a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying: GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE GOOD WILL TO MEN!” (think sold out football arena of angels, one of which could destroy the US Military with a swipe of his hand).
Remember these cats had never heard an amplified sound. They had never seen a picture or video or movie. Try to imagine how stunning a HOST of the heavenly order would be to them.
Angels are awesome created beings. They are not fat little babies or nice people who die.
Sorry ladies, but for the record, there are no female angels. If you want to put an angel on the top of your tree, it should be Gabriel in all of his glory.)
LOVE, JOY, AND PEACE ARE THE ESSENCE OF GOD’S WILL FOR ALL PEOPLE! IN THE ANGELS MESSAGE, GOD BEGAN AT THAT VERY INSTANT A NEW AND PERMANENT STATE OF PEACE BETWEEN HIM AND ALL MEN! FOR ETERNITY!
Here is God’s proclamation through His messenger Gabriel to all people forever and ever and ever and ever:
“GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TO MEN.”
God is not at war with us! God is not mad at us!! He is not out to get us! He is not making a list and checking it twice. He doesn’t even have a list. God has no record of wrongs.
Jesus paid the full and entire price for our sins, and for those who accept that payment through belief in Him, He has chosen to be unable to recall them.(Hebrews 10:10-12, Hebrews 8:12, Psalm 103:3 and 12, Zephaniah 3:17)
Christmas is about the vast infinite love that our beloved Father has for each one of us. He cherishes you so much that He left His throne and His Glory to suffer the indignity of becoming a human and to be tempted at every point just like we are. He loves us so much that He gave us everything He had. He loves us so much that He personally bore the price for our unrighteousness in HIs body on the cross.
Why? So that He could have you with Him for all of eternity because He loves you that much.
A very Mary Christmas.
