Our family likes to watch Jeff Foxworthy on Netflix. His humor about some of life's observations can remind us all of funny family settings and experiences. Once in awhile, Bill Engvall will join him on his Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Our favorites are the “Here’s Your Sign” jokes. How could stuff that is so obvious trip people up?
The answer is because we get so caught up in the moment. Whether we feel the emotion of joy, fear, surprise, wonder, amazement, it takes time for our brains to process what is happening around us. And because we respond without thinking, we blurt out the first thing, which often doesn’t make a lot of sense.
All of these same crazy emotions flowed from what the shepherds had just experienced, the night Jesus was born. They were doing their normal blue collar jobs, nothing special, just trying to watch their sheep in the dark. When suddenly, the night sky lit up with streams of light piercing the atmosphere. If that wasn’t enough, an angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone around them. You know that had to be bright!
The Bible tells us in Luke 2:8-20, the shepherds were terrified and this is the point where they were probably ready to say something that didn’t make sense. None of it was making sense. They needed a sign!
So the angel told them-“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Then the shepherds did something that made a lot of sense. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
This week, spend some time processing your Savior’s birth and stand in awe of his wonderful signs of grace.
Smiles and Merry Christmas,
Wendy