Day Six: Twelve Days of Christmas
God sent messengers to tell the story.
Milk Messenger
My school had a milk program. Each day a student was selected to be milk monitor, an honor awarded for good class behavior. Occasionally, it was awarded to me and it felt great. Because of me, kids had something to drink with their peanut butter sandwiches.
God’s Messenger
Heaven had a program too. An angel was sent as a messenger to announce the Messiah’s birth. Luke 2:8-11:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone all around them, and they were much afraid.
But the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy, that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.”
The Shepherds
Most likely, they were poor, ordinary men, and were nothing special. Except, they were chosen to see the infant king. Think about it. The Lord chose keepers of sheep to visit the Lamb of God.
Where did they find the baby Jesus? He was in an ordinary place that was nothing special. They found him in a covered stall used for draft animals.
An angel of heaven’s glory gave the message to men reeking of sheep. Perhaps they were chosen because the newly born King also smelled of the barn? I guess God decides what makes a man special.
Did the shepherds tell anyone about it? Luke 2:17-18:
“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.”
To Close
It was great being milk messenger, it was an honor, and I did my best. The shepherds did a pretty good job too. Theirs was the message of angels, the message of God, sharing good news of great joy with all the people.
