Sermonstudio

Little things done by great people may get more press. It is
the great things done by little people that make people great.
And so it is that no press conference was called to announce the
coming of the One who would change the world. No reporters on the
steps of the Supreme Court awaited the decision of God that the
time had come. There wasn't the flurry of political comments
we've come to expect as Congress is invited to reflect on the
meaning of some world-changing development. There was no summit
meeting of super powers; no General Assembly of United Nations.
Instead God chose to make known the Word made flesh, first to
a simple little band of anonymous, humble, probably dirty and
under-challenged shepherds. Without this dramatic evening they
would have receded into history so anonymous as to be next to
meaningless in the bigger picture of things. And so it goes that
God chooses whom God chooses. And history is changed. Little
people come to mean a lot where God is concerned. As a result
these shepherds are part of more famous pictures than have been
painted on any subject.
Like John the Baptist, a subculture drop-out, and Mary, a
simple teenager in her modest Nazareth home, these simple
shepherds take their place on humanity's center stage. They hear
what no one has heard; are awed by it, believe it, act

upon it and life will never be the same. Like the shepherds, you
and I experience Christmas and have a chance to change things.
Again it is a scene worth picturing. Having taken the
impulsive suggestion of one of their band that they go and "see
this thing that has come to pass," which the angels had made
known to them, they found the place and the person who was
promised. No doubt they went with a deep sense of mystery. Their
awe and wonder may have been surpassed by the surprise of Mary
and Joseph when these fellows showed up that night. The holy
parents would have been surprised by the shepherds, but probably
not so amazed by their story. By this time, Mary and Joseph know
all about the startling messages of angels. Jesus' parents were
starting to get more a-"customed" to the voice of God in dreams
and through angels.
Receiving visitors to your new baby is one thing, but these
shepherds would be quite another. Dirty, weather-beaten, poor and
awkward in so holy a presence, the shepherds caused the parents
to have a new and humble sense of wonder of their own. These
simple shepherds not only stopped by to see the baby. They
crouched down, kneeling to worship. They peered into the manger
and probably uttered what they could remember of the psalms. Then
they paused, speechless, to simply worship. Theirs would be no,
"Isn't he cute ..." nor would they conjecture much about which
parent he most resembled. Most likely they would simply keep
quiet for the moment, allowing the simple power of it all to
burnish its way into their spiritual memory. This was a scene
that would be remembered. Not only remembered, it would be
reported and it would change the world.
You and I come to that same place this day. We come with their
same sense of awe and humility. No higher and mightier than they
were, we would do well to permit ourselves the same lowly and
humble behaviors of those simple shepherds. For all the
achievements of our lives; for all the fulfillment we might
experience or even the fame that favors a few, none of us

could be so privileged as they. For all of the impact we might
have in this world, none of us could have so high a purpose in
life as to take the place of just one of those shepherds this
Christmas.
For not only did they experience what any faithful follower of
Christ would treasure -- they told of it -- so that all might
treasure what took place. And you may be sure they did tell of
it. They must have. Luke reports that they returned glorifying
and praising God for all that they had seen and heard. And who
could tell of this incident other than the shepherds? There were
no other witnesses on that Bethlehem hillside. Surely, while Mary
and Joseph would cherish the whole experience, as if putting it
in Jesus' baby book, the manger scene is the shepherds' unique
witnessing opportunity. It is even possible that one or two of
the younger ones would live long enough to tell Luke about it
decades later when he sought eyewitnesses for this gospel. It is
even likely that these shepherds became active participants in
the faith community when it all came together over the decades
that followed. And who would tell of the hillside chorus and the
manger scene if not these shepherds?
Like you and me. Who will tell of God's blessings and grace in
your life if you keep it to yourself? You have had moments of joy
and hope fill you with God's promise. And who is to tell of that
-- to someone in need of the message -- if you do not? Like the
shepherds, you too can return, praising and glorifying God for
what you have seen and heard? God has communicated to you a
message full of wonder in the midst of life's mysteries. And
who's going to repeat that word of clear confidence in God when
life gets confusing if you don't? They came bearing nothing but
their open hearts. They come, willing to empty themselves,
confident of a God who fills those who surrender to being empty.
Who's going to use your experience of being filled if you don't
share that fulfillment?
Surely they might have been reluctant witnesses. Aren't we
all? But maybe they were also no more religious than you. Likely
less so. They probably hadn't been to synagogue for,

well, who knows? Shepherds work long hours, too, and switch
shifts. They could have doubted their experience of the angels
and the music of the message. Instead they willingly trusted the
spiritual truth of their extraordinary experience. They followed
their spiritual intuitions and they took action. Instead of being
overcome with their practical concerns about their flock they
risked leaving the sheep unprotected. This was too important an
event to miss. Or, perhaps one shepherd volunteered to stay
behind so the others could have the experience. We are always
indebted to volunteers for ministry. The shepherds' faith in
action is a witness to the need for both witness and sacrifice.
They are the same issues you and I need to overcome if we're
going to act on our faith as well.
It was a simple scene, really; made more complex only by the
wonder and artistry of centuries. But what simple scenes in your
life might communicate God's message to someone whose life has
become too complicated? The message of the shepherds is full of
encouragement. Unto us this day has been born a whole new life.
In the birth of Jesus there is a peace on earth and an
opportunity for goodwill otherwise unknown. Who would have shared
that witness if they had failed?
You and I, like the shepherds, have just so unique a witness
this Christmas. We, too, are humble, simple folks; almost
meaningless in the long panorama of human history. Anonymous when
the histories are written. But not anonymous with God. Those
nameless shepherds were given a mission. And like the shepherds,
you and I who visit that manger this day have a mission as well.
There's a purpose to our going to Bethlehem in worship, to
spiritually see what God has brought to pass this Christmas.
There's a purpose to our worship of him at his manger in our
faith community this day. There's a mission for even the humblest
and simplest worshiper or shepherd. There's a world still needing
to hear our praise and "glory to God" for what we have seen and
heard that has come to pass this Christmas.