“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” – Luke 2:8-10

Let’s pause to consider the roles of servant and served in this part of the Christmas story. The shepherds might seem like obvious choices for the role of servants. In Jesus’ day, shepherding wasn’t a highly respected position. Ancient writers describe some shepherds as lazy, while others tarnished their reputation by stealing from the very flocks they were entrusted to protect. Some of this reputation also stemmed from the pride of their more sophisticated countrymen who made their living more by wits than by hands and hard work. 

Still, these shepherds were no worse than the self-righteous and self-important people who occupied the “higher” levels of society. 

The angels, by contrast, were beings of unearthly glory. Scripture tells us they are always in the presence of God, seeing His face—a sight no mortal can yet survive. Angels are entirely holy, free from sin, never lazy, dishonest or prideful. The glory of the Lord shone around the angel who visited the shepherds, filling them with awe, as it does with every human who comes face to face with an angel in the Bible. 

Now, here’s the twist for us to ponder: In this moment, the angels come as servants. 

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” 

Rather than demanding reverence from the shepherds, the angels arrive to serve them, delivering God’s message of good news. The author of Hebrews reminds us, “Are not all angels ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Here, they are God’s messengers, sent to bring good news to sinful men who are far less holy and less deserving of God’s grace.

What does this say about the place we hold in God’s heart? Not just these shepherds, but all of us who hear the angel’s message are treasured by God. We are honored to be counted among those whom He values enough to send a direct message through His holy angels. 

Years ago, I saw an invitation on my grandfather’s desk to a presidential inauguration. I later learned it was part of a mass mailing that didn’t grant actual access to the event. Of course, my grandfather hadn’t attended. He wasn’t high enough on the president’s list of friends and supporters to receive that kind of direct invitation.

But we, along with these humble shepherds, hold a high place on God’s list. He doesn’t send a mass mailing. Instead, He sends His personal representatives, the angels, to serve the shepherds and us with the Christmas message of our savior’s birth.

Nourish your faith in between Sundays by reading more of John’s writings at BitsOfBread.org.