The Shepherd scene in Luke is quite astonishing. A handful of shepherds were watching the flocks by night. Shepherds were not high on the totem pole of important people. Shepherds were not typically people came to with their spiritual problems and were not sought after for their religious expertise. Yet it was shepherds who God’s angel appeared to in the still of the night. This would have otherwise been an ordinary, boring night. But something was different.
Luke says “the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear” (Luke 2:9 ESV). When the glory of God shone, it was oftentimes recorded as blinding light. The angel told them not to fear, “for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (vs. 10-11). Imagine. A group of ordinary shepherds minding their own business. Then an angel appears, the glory of God shines brightly, they are told that the Savior of mankind was just born, and a multitude of the heavenly host appears, praising God.
The Shepherds immediately left for Bethlehem to see the spectacle. They began explaining to everyone what the angels had told them. Ordinary people with an extraordinary message. God chose to show up to a small group of shepherds and used them to announce to another small group that the Savior was born!