The Least and the Lowest {The Greatest Story} - 12 Days of Christmas

They inhabited one of the lowest rungs of society.  They were thought of as good for nothing more than keeping sheep.  They were haggard, grumpy, and probably smelled pretty bad.

And they were chosen to see God first. 

The story would have been very different if the wise men had come first.  If the rich and the brilliant had been the first to see Him. 

But God didn't just come for the wealthy and the wise.  He came to save all of humanity from itself.  And to prove that, He sent messengers to an open field, a small spattering of unwashed men, and dozens of sheep. 

It must have been terrifying.  The angel's first words are "Fear not", which tells me that the shepherds were doing the exact opposite of that.  One minute you're sitting next to your makeshift fire, looking up at the stars and trying to ignore the growl in your stomach.  The next, the sky is split open with blinding light and a voice that seems to come from everywhere is telling you not to be afraid.  But what else can you do?

And then the voice is speaking words that your humble Jewish heart had given up hope of hearing.  "The Messiah has come.  God is here.  Go and find Him!"  And just like that, the night is dark again.  The sheep keep grazing as if nothing happened.  You look to your companions, still noticing the faint glow of heavenly light on their faces.

The whole group jumps to their feet, pulling at each other as they race into the city.  "We have to find him!  We have to see what God has done!"

Mary must have been startled to see a group of unshaven shepherds standing at the stable entrance.  Joseph moved so that his body shielded his wife and God incarnate from these strangers.  But when the first man caught sight of Him, and fell to his knees, and began to cry, they relaxed.

They probably didn't expect to see the least and the lowest standing in the presence of the King.  Who would?  But I suppose, taking into account that the birth had taken place in a stable, they might have figured out that this wasn't going to be anything like anyone had expected. 

The beauty of God calling the shepherds first doesn't lie in the men, it lies in the manger.  The beauty is the fact that God not only sent Himself to Earth, He sent Himself to a young family who had to go on a long journey to fulfill a prophecy, and introduced Himself first to a group of shepherds.  Not to the kings, not to the wealthy, not to the religious... to the poor and the lost and the hurting.  What a beautiful picture that is for all of us who come to the manger, and come to the cross, in much the same way.

This was a continuation of a series I started last year, so if you want to see my posts on Mary or Joseph, you can click this link right here!

And, of course, check out all the other blogs participating in the 12 Days of Christmas fun!  Here's a link!

~ Abby