Today we celebrate the third week of Advent, and the theme is JOY.
As my kids were growing up, we focused on the Shepherds this weekend. Typically we would take a shepherd figurine from a nativity set as the object lesson to focus the children’s attention.
The shepherds were ignorant of the momentous events in Bethlehem. They lived out in the fields with their sheep. It must have been a lonely, smelly lifestyle.
They were doing their thing that day when Jesus was born, and were it not for the angel who came to announce the good news, they would have completely missed what was going on. But the angel did come and share the tidings.
It was night time according to Luke 2:8, and they had probably gathered all the sheep into a cave for the night. In this way the shepherds could keep them safe and away from nocturnal predators. Apparently there were several shepherds, so possibly several flocks were together. Undoubtedly the shepherds would have left one behind to keep track of all the sheep. But some of them left to go see the babe.
When an angel appears to make an announcement, it’s a good idea to pay attention. I don’t think the shepherds really understood what was going on. But if it warranted an angelic messenger, then it was something to go see.
So the shepherds decided to see what all the ruckus was about. I wonder how the shepherd who stayed behind with the sheep felt. Everyone else got to go worship the King of glory. But the one unlucky soul missed out on this opportunity.
After all the angelic hullabaloo it must have been quite the scene.
The story of the shepherds ends like this:
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
From this we get the classic Christmas carol – Joy to the World.
Joy, because the King has come. Joy because God is in motion to fulfill His promise to restore His kingdom.
So this week of Advent we focus on Joy. We celebrate with Joy because we know that the babe in the manger was the sacrifice of Calvary. The lamb whose blood covered the sins of the world.
We experience joy because this is the beginning of the redemption process. Without the Babe, there would have been not crucifixion and no resurrection.
So let Joy be your companion this week.
Focus on joy and celebrate the Joy that comes with this season.
He has come!
Dennis
