Jesus' Birth Announcement

     Jesus enter this world humble and He comes to the humble.  He is born in the humble town of Bethlehem to humble parents during a time in history when the Jews have been humbled by being absorbed into the Roman Empire.  Not coincidentally, the first birth announcement goes to people living on the periphery of Jewish society:  shepherds.  The shepherds were essentially nomads who roamed the countryside, looking for fresh pastures for their sheep.  Men and boys, more accustomed to sleeping in open fields with their sheep than mingling among respectable citizens.  Even though the shepherds provided the sheep for Jewish sacrifices at the temple, they were considered too unclean to worship at the temple themselves. 
     To this faithful fringe of society, God displays His glory.  A company of angels, singing of the birth of Jesus and inviting the shepherds to go find Him and worship.  And here is the astounding thing. . . they DID.  They left their sheep, left their livelihood, left their comfort zone and ventured into Bethlehem.  (Picture homeless men walking through corporate high rises!)  This rough, humble band of men and boys willingly abandoned everything just to go and see Jesus in baby-form. 
     There are no details of what happened in their encounter with Mary, Joseph and Jesus, but SOMETHING transformed them.  These reticent, social outcasts were emboldened to go through Bethlehem telling everyone what they had seen.   Luke writes that "all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."  (Luke 2:18)  The reality of the Messiah's arrival outstripped their inhibitions.  Just the birth of Jesus changed these men's lives in some way.  They returned to their flocks "glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."  (Luke 2:20)
      Who is this God who bends so low and extends His love so far?  Imagine the poor of London being invited to Prince Charles and Princess Kate's wedding?  When in this world do we ever see grandeur interact with abject poverty.  Yes, there are celebrities and philanthropists that generously spotlight impoverish nations and raise money to help.  But who has ever gone to live among the poor?  Who would sacrifice their prominence, respectability, wealthy and comfort to live among the needy?  This is Jesus, Savior of every person who is humble enough to cry, "Have mercy on me, Lord, a sinner." 

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death -- that is, the devil -- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."  Hebrews 2:14, 15

"For this reason he  had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that hemight become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."  Hebrews 2: 17,18