By Kristen Bennett Marble
Imagine reading the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2 for the first time. Imagine not knowing the story, not knowing the main characters, not knowing how the story will unfold. Imagine coming to the text with fresh eyes.
Luke dedicates just two succinct, quick verses to Jesus’ actual birth: “While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom” (Luke 2:6–7 CEB). In comparison, Luke spends five verses describing Caesar Augustus’ tax enrollment (Luke 2:1–5) and the shepherds receive Luke’s front-and-center attention with thirteen verses (Luke 2:8–20)!
_
“God’s glory and good news lead to our pilgrimage and passion.”
_
We might rationalize that Luke’s entire first two chapters describe Jesus’ birth, and the actual birthing process really need not receive detailed attention. But it’s curious nonetheless; it causes me to zero in on the shepherds who receive the greatest column inches in Luke 2. And I come away from Luke’s detailed description of the shepherds with a renewed call to, and even a two-part model for, discipleship.
Part one: God displays God’s glory (Luke 2:9, 13–14) and declares God’s good news (Luke 2:10–12).
Part two: The shepherds respond to God’s glory and good news with a pilgrimage to confirm (Luke 2:15–16) and then proclaim it with passion (Luke 2:17–20).
God’s glory and good news lead to our pilgrimage and passion. We see this modeled again and again throughout Scripture. Moses, John the Baptist, Paul. Mary of Magdala, Lydia, Phoebe. And also, perhaps, you?
When have you recently experienced God’s glory and good news? Amazingly, doing so doesn’t require us to do anything extraordinary or to travel somewhere unique. In fact, the shepherds, just like Moses, were simply performing their normal jobs, and God extravagantly showed up. We might not see angels (that we know of!) or burning bushes, but God’s glory and good news surround us. Can you perceive it?
And when you perceive God’s glory and good news, what is your response?
It might be tempting, especially in busy seasons, to respond just with private moments of gratitude and worship. To not draw attention. To not pursue anything further. To forgot the pilgrimage and minimize the passion.
_
“Perhaps this season we can also challenge ourselves to live, worship and proclaim like the shepherds.”
_
But the shepherds remind us that God’s glory and good news demand a response. When was the last time you declared, “Let’s go right now to … see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us”? And when you’ve confirmed, how do you “spread the word” in a way that “amazes”?
This Christmas season, let’s look with fresh eyes at Luke’s account. Let’s follow the shepherds’ two-part discipleship model of experiencing God’s glory and good news and responding with our pilgrimage and passion. While we will continue to look to Jesus, perhaps this season we can also challenge ourselves to live, worship and proclaim like the shepherds.
What does pilgrimage look like in your life today?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You came to live, teach and minister among us. And we thank You for the faithful response of the shepherds who, without hesitation, went quickly and returned glorifying and praising. Teach us to be like the shepherds — to embrace the pilgrimage and be filled with passion. Break down the barriers that keep us stagnant and dispassionate. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
+
Kristen Bennett Marble, D.Min., is the senior pastor of West Morris Church in Indianapolis and the author of “The Scriptures of Jesus and the Early Church” and “The Second Scriptures.” Visit kristenmarble.com to learn more about her and to read more of her writing.
Great Writing + Discipleship Materials
