On January 18, 2020, a letter was posted to @sussexroyal, the official Instagram account of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It was a statement from Her Majesty the Queen announcing the departure of Harry and Megan as senior members of the royal family and their upcoming plans to move to the United States. Not surprisingly, the post went viral, gaining more than 1.7 million responses.
Some news is too important not to share.
And, if the announcement of a prince and princess leaving their home is noteworthy, how much more significant is the report of a King who has left His home in heaven to come to earth? The wonder of simple shepherds in the field is that they received, rejoiced in and reported the good news of Jesus’ birth.
The night air was brisk for the band of shepherds huddled together in the pastureland outside of Bethlehem. Resting by the campfire, an occasional bleating of sheep breaking the silence, they shared stories and gossip from the day or recounted ancient tales of national history. They guarded no ordinary flocks. These were lambs raised for the Temple sacrifice—premium livestock requiring round-the-clock protection from animal and human predators. Some may have stood watch from a higher vantage point in the Migdal Eder. The rest took turns at one of four watches throughout the night. Jewish tradition held that when the Messiah arrived, he would come at midnight.
Suddenly, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:9). The beauty of the star-flung sky became exponentially more brilliant as an angelic messenger descended from above. The otherworldly phenomenon made the men shrink back in heart-pounding terror. Never had they been more aware of their humanity and vulnerability.
But the angel put them at ease: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (vv. 10-11). The Greek word Christos (“Christ”) is also the Hebrew word Mashiach (“Messiah”). The very first people to learn of the Messiah’s arrival were peasant countrymen in the fields looking after Passover lambs. When they learned the good news, they left their flocks to search Bethlehem for the Savior. They must have been so convinced that the Savior of Israel had come that they willingly abandoned their posts, convinced that temple sacrifices were no longer needed because the true Lamb of God was born.
This was world news worth posting.
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
Having received the news of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds rejoiced. They glorified and praised God for everything they saw and heard (v. 20). But their praise wasn’t private. Matthew writes, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (vv. 17-18). Their personal encounter with Jesus compelled @bethlehemshepherds to post “Just met the Messiah. Everything is about to change!”
Very often, when people discovered Jesus, they went throughout their local community telling everyone about it. When Peter and John were arrested and commanded not to preach about Jesus anymore, they refused because “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). In the opening verses of his first letter, John connects personal encounter with public expression,
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:1-4)
If you have met Jesus, you have something to talk about.
What you have seen with your eyes, heard with your ears, embraced with your heart, enjoyed with your life—this Gospel must be announced from the rooftops! Just as the shepherds were passing on news they received from the angel, so you and I are simply conduits of the good news we heard from somebody else. Let your wonder of Jesus overflow into the world.
Take a few cues from the angel’s announcement to spur on your own sharing. Never forget that Jesus is “good news.” Turn on the television and it doesn’t take long to realize that everyone could use a little good news. People are yearning for Jesus. They just don’t know it. Share the Gospel and you will bring joy to your world.
Also notice that this good news was “for all the people.” Don’t try to figure out who needs Jesus and who doesn’t. He’s for everyone—white collar and blue collar, conservatives and liberals, nationals and immigrants, wealthy and poor, educated and ignorant, successful and failures, enemies and friends. Everyone needs Jesus.
Remember, you’re not inviting people into religion, but into a relationship with the living God. Jesus offers far more than rigid rule-following. He promises peace and joy through the forgiveness of sins.
Finally, let your changed life speak for itself. It’s important for Christians to open their lips. But your Jesus-centered life will often preach even louder than words. Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Preach Christ at all times and if necessary, use words.”
Go to Bethlehem and find your Savior. If you already know Him, return home, and tell everyone you meet what He has done for you. Post away. Make your message go viral. Perhaps someone will listen to your glorious story, be amazed, and meet the Messiah too.