• Home
  • |
  • Shepherds: God’s Surprise Choice To First Hear of Jesus

The Shepherds Were Surprised Messengers

Today shepherds are thought of in a positive light. The life of a shepherd is looked upon with a romantic envy by people whose lives are busy without end. Those who serve in pastoral ministry are called shepherds of the flock of God. It’s a noble calling. It’s hard for us today to imagine how people in Jesus' day felt about shepherds. They were despised, the lowest rung on the social ladder. Rabbis in Jesus' day openly wondered how God could be compared to such a lowly and despicable role in Psalm 23. Who do you think has the lowest, least desirable job in our world today? Perhaps it would be people who sort through garbage in dumps to find something of value to sell. People didn’t like and didn’t want to spend time with shepherds. So it may have been that the shepherds were as surprised as anyone that the angel told them about Jesus’ birth. Then for Luke to tell us they were actually the first ones to be told is even more amazing!
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. Luke 2:8-9
There were plenty of “good” people to tell. Certainly the priests and religious leaders fit into that category. There were also godly priests like Zechariah. In addition there were other faithful people looking for the coming of the Messiah. Luke 2:25-38 But the angel passed them all by on the way to the countryside near Bethlehem.
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14

What God’s Choice Of the Shepherds Teaches Us

  1. God doesn’t see people the way we do. 1 Samuel 16:7 The angel told the shepherds Jesus was born “unto you.” They were as important as anyone else. So are you!
  2. God chooses whom He will. Romans 9:14-16 God blessed these despised men with a joyful message to change their lives. He has the exact same message for you and me.
  3. God doesn’t choose the wise or strong. 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 The wise and strong don’t need anything. Do you need God today?
  4. God chose well. The shepherds were the first evangelists!
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
God showed who He values in choosing the shepherds as the first to learn of Jesus’ birth. As those who are chosen by God may we be as faithful as the shepherds in sharing the good news of Jesus!

Related Posts

Mary’s Diary

This is the second in a series of short stories in which I take the biblical account of Christmas and weave in details as I imagine they happened. In this story I imagine what Mary may have written if she kept a diary. The Bible is inspired by God, my writing is not. I hope

Read More

Zechariah and Elizabeth

This is a series of short stories in which I take the biblical story of Christmas and weave in details as I imagine they happened. The Bible is inspired by God, my writing is not. I hope my additions make this story come to life personally for you. The Christmas Story Part 1 “I’m praying

Read More

Mary’s Christmas Story [As I Imagine She Would Tell It]

Mary’s Christmas Story I need to sleep, but I can’t. It’s quiet now. Joseph is out getting more fuel for the fire. Jesus is sleeping peacefully beside me. I’m exhausted but I don’t want to sleep. So many wonderful things have happened today, I want to soak it all in. I don’t want this moment

Read More

Ward Cushman


My journey of faith started when I was nine years old when I realized that Jesus died and rose again to pay for my sins. At the age of thirteen I felt the call of God on my life for ministry.

I have been fortunate to work in the marketplace for over ten years and in full-time Christian ministry for over thirty years.

My passion is to teach God's Word in such a way that it is easy to understand and so that God uses it to bring about life change in those who hear it.

It is my greatest joy to see God work through me to produce fruit for His glory!