We have come here tonight to celebrate and to remember a night of long ago when a baby boy was born in a lowly stable. Babies are born every day throughout the world, and each newborn is special. So what makes the birth of this baby so different that we would come here late at night just to remember His birth?

His mother, Mary, a young teenage girl, was accompanied by Joseph the carpenter, who had claimed this child as his own. Although there was much gossip as to whether or not he really was, if you know what I mean. Mary claimed her child was the Son of God, but did anyone really believe her? At first Joseph, her betrothed just wanted to send her away. Then he changed his mind and married Mary, saying he had a dream that confirmed her story. The gossip just increased in the small border town of Nazareth. Unlike today, unwed mothers were either stoned to death or banished. It was a rare act for a man to marry a woman carrying another man’s child let alone claim the child as his own. 

Mary and Joseph had traveled all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to be registered for taxes as decreed by the Roman Emperor. The journey by caravan usually took about four days. Because of Mary’s pregnancy, the couple’s journey would have taken much longer, at least a week. Tradition tells us that Mary rode a donkey and Joseph walked. The journey was dangerous, particularly for travelers not protected by a caravan, making them easy prey for the robbers that roamed the countryside. Then when Mary and Joseph finally arrived in Bethlehem, the inn was already full.

Can we even imagine how discouraging this would be? Why couldn’t Mary’s child been born in the couple’s home in Nazareth? At least their relatives could have been there for support? At least Mary would have had a decent bed to bring her newborn into the world. Instead, Mary’s child was born in a stable crowded with animals. The only safe place to put the newborn was in the manger, which was the feeding trough.

After an arduous journey, being told there was no room in the inn for them and Mary giving birth, the couple probably thought that was enough for one day, but then something happened. Shepherds with their bleating lambs came hurriedly into the already crowded stable to see the newborn child. When they saw Mary’s child, they fell down and worshipped him.

They worshipped Mary’s newborn baby, because He was no ordinary baby. The shepherds claimed that angels had announced His birth to them as they were watching their flocks at night on the hillside just outside of town. Today this hillside continues to be known as Shepherds’ Hill. It is a steep hill, which gives a wonderful view of the countryside. One can easily envision the sky being filled with the heavenly hosts singing their Welcome Song.

Luke writes,

“In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
       ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
        and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’”

The shepherds’ unexpected arrival and message confirmed in Mary’s heart what she already knew. This newborn baby was no ordinary child. He was the Son of the Living God, the long awaited Messiah. The words of the Angel Gabriel had been fulfilled.  Luke writes,

“The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most high will overshadow you, therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.’”

The very night Mary’s child came into the world, the Lord God sent shepherds to seek Him out and worship Him. The fulfillment of the annunciation by the Angel Gabriel was proclaimed on that most holy night of long ago by another angel. Then the angelic host of heaven filled the night sky with their praises to God for the birth of the Savior, Jesus the Christ!

Yes, we have come here tonight to remember and celebrate the miraculous birth of the One sent from God to change the world. On that most holy night of long ago, hope was born into the world in the vulnerable form of a baby boy. The Son of God left heaven to become one of us. The Divine Creator humbled Himself to not only become one of His creations, but chose to be born in a lowly stable.

Shepherds, the lowest rung of society, were the first ones invited to worship the Savior of the world. They were invited by God’s messengers, the glorious angelic host of heaven. It was to the poorest that the King of Kings first revealed Himself. The rich would come later, following a star. They would bring priceless gifts for the Son of God. Yet, it is in the arrival of the shepherds where we find hope for all. The poorest of the poor are given the honor of being the first ones to worship the newborn king. Perhaps it is because they did not have to prepare for their visit, they just came as they were.

The angelic invitation to the shepherds of long ago is still open for us tonight. We do not even have to go to a stable to find this Savior of Hope. Instead, we need only to open up our hearts to the Christ Child. No physical preparation is needed. We can just come as we are and worship, Jesus the Son of God, the Son of Mary.