Dec 9, 2025
6 min read
Have you ever found something you weren’t looking for? Throughout life, unexpected discoveries often interrupt ordinary moments. Something appears—unplanned, unanticipated, and sometimes undesired—and suddenly a routine day becomes a moment of revelation. Christmas carries that same theme. It is the story of God revealing Himself to people who were not searching, not prepared, and not expecting Him.
Nowhere is that clearer than in Luke 2.
Luke 2 describes shepherds working a regular night shift in the fields. Nothing about the setting was extraordinary. These shepherds were not praying for a sign, reading prophecies, or scanning the skies in expectation. They were simply guarding their sheep.
“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified.”
—Luke 2:8–9
The language in the original text emphasizes the intensity of their fear: they “feared a great fear.” And understandably so—darkness gave way to glory, and heaven interrupted earth.
But beyond the miracle of the moment lies a deeper question: Why shepherds?
Shepherds held one of the lowest positions in ancient society. R.C. Sproul describes them as:
“The lowest class of people… Their calling prevented them from participating in religious rituals. They were viewed as untrustworthy and were not permitted to testify in court. Yet although society despised them, God held them close to His heart.”
Shepherds were often:
Some were sent out because they were the youngest in the family—the ones considered too inexperienced for more demanding work. Even David, before becoming king, served in this role.
In every way, shepherds were the last people anyone would expect to receive a divine announcement.
Yet these were the very people God chose.
Scripture gives a clear promise:
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
But the Christmas story reveals something more. God also draws near to those who are not drawing near to Him.
Isaiah foretold this:
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light… a light will shine.”
—Isaiah 9:2
The shepherds were not seeking a Savior, yet the Savior sought them.
This divine interruption moved them through a spiritual progression:
Their experience shows that seeing Jesus changes the heart, and a changed heart leads to obedient action.
The shepherds’ response remains one of the most powerful aspects of the Christmas story:
“After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened…”
—Luke 2:17
They did not deliver a theological lecture.
They did not strategize or plan a ministry.
They simply told what they saw.
Seeing Jesus grounded them.
A settled heart produced obedience.
Obedience produced testimony.
Testimony revealed Jesus.
And this is still true today.
There are countless people “in their fields”—living ordinary lives, unaware of the Savior’s nearness. They may not be seeking God, but God is seeking them. Often, all it takes is someone willing to be interruptible and attentive, so that Christ can be seen through their lives.
The shepherds’ encounter with Christ ends with a powerful image:
“The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.”
—Luke 2:20
After seeing Jesus, they returned to the same fields, the same routines, and the same responsibilities—but not the same hearts. Their worship became their witness. Their ordinary lives became vessels of extraordinary truth.
This reflects a timeless principle:
Those who see Him naturally show Him.
The Christmas story invites every believer to embrace two meaningful practices:
Christmas becomes more than a celebration—it becomes participation in God’s mission.
He is still revealing Himself.
He is still interrupting ordinary moments.
He is still drawing near to the unaware.
And He is still using unexpected people, just like the shepherds, to carry His message.