Visit of Homage by Shepherds (series: Harmony of the Gospels)

by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)

Harmony of the Gospels
-3-4 BC-
Bethleham

(9) Visit of Homage by Shepherds


Luke 2:15-20

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see the thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about the child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:15-20)

The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and when they got there they found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. They must have been one of the first to see the baby. At least, we know they arrived before the wise men, because when the wise men arrived they were living in a house and that was probably a few months later. Mary had a great many things to turn over in her mind, because of the miraculous and unusual events surrounding the birth of her son. There was the visit by the angel and the message he brought, the dream that Joseph had, Elizabeth’s declaration concerning her unborn baby and now these shepherds have told her of a glorious announcement of the birth by heavenly beings. Yet, the baby that she holds, just like any baby, needs her constant care. It would take the Resurrection for her to completely understand all of this.

The shepherds accepted the glorious demonstration and the message from the heavenly host as a revelation from God. They told everyone that they met about what had happened and all about the baby, and when they returned they praised God.