On Emmaus Road

Shepherds. Shepherds get to hear about and be the first people, aside from Jesus’ earthly parents, to meet the Savior of the world. Not kings, not powerful leaders, not high priests, but shepherds. They were humble, lowly people, who would not have been highly regarded by people in power, yet God chose to let them know first.

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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.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2: 15 - 20

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I’m sure over the years I’ve heard pastors teach about the shepherds. I’m certain that I’ve heard the interpretation that God chose to appear to them first because they were ordinary people, lowly people. That by appearing to them first it was a way to show how Jesus was for everyone, and not your typical king. I’ve heard it taught that he chose them because they would be obedient messangers to spread the word of Jesus’ arrival. However, when I was reading over this section of scripture a different thought came to mind.

If you knew me personally, you’d know I’m a big reader. I’ve almost always got a book that I’m currently in the middle of and I’m earner to offer book recommendations to people in need. I give you that as context for how my brain connected what I’m about to share. I have no biblical commentary to back it up, just how my reader brain thought today.

As I was siting there thinking over this scripture and how the shepherds might have felt, the verse below came to mind.

"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

John 10:11

And I thought; “What if the angels telling the Shepherds first about Jesus’ birth was a subtle nod/foreshadowing to when Jesus called himself the good shepherd!?!” I mean I had never thought about that before, or connected the two in any way. Today the connection I saw between the two filled me with all kinds of questions and a little wonder too.

I’ve got that list of questions tucked away for now (I’ve got some research to do). So, let’s focus on the big important picture - Jesus really is our good shepherd and he cares for us more than we can grasp. He loves us deeply and he longs for us to be in his fold.

Friends as we head into the weekend may we go hurriedly toward Jesus, just as the shepherds did.

And may we also choose to spread the word about Jesus with all we encounter.

To Everything There Is A Season…

Kiley Ann