LUKE 2:8-18

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the 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.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

Backgrounder

What are the chances that when God sent his angels to shepherds, of all people? We shouldn’t picture gentle, carefree men in picturesque outfits just playing their flutes under a mild blue sky while fluffy lambs skip about playfully.
Shepherds were among the lowest of the low in that culture, maybe just above public sinners and tax collectors. They had really hard lives: staying outdoors for long stretches, protecting the sheep in wilderness settings, unable to stay clean or warm. They would have been considered basically good for nothing ruffians.
God sent his angels with the greatest message ever: Jesus, Son of God, is born. The angels could have been sent to the Roman governor or King Herod, where the message would have the greatest political impact. They could have gone to the priests at the temple in Jerusalem, where they might have understood that God was finally fulfilling his promises to his chosen people.
Not only were the shepherds among the lowest classes of people, they had no influence over anyone. By choosing them to first hear the unexpected amazing news, God reveals us a lot about who he is. Jesus, the Son of God, is born in humble circumstances, in the manger, where animals would feed. The lowly shepherds match God’s choice of a lowly young woman, Mary, to be the mother of Jesus.
As you go on with daily life, you may not seem all that special. Maybe you wonder if anyone even cares that you exist. This Christmas, God’s message of joy and peace through the birth of Jesus is especially for you. The hope which he brings is the source of unexpected amazement for each one of us. God chooses you to hear the good news.