A night to remember

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or because life seems to be getting busier, but I often find it incredibly difficult to remember what happened just a day or two ago. Yet there are days from years ago that stick in my mind as if it was just yesterday.

Like the day a shiny new tractor arrived in the yard, or the day I was at a farmers’ meeting when news of the 9/11 terror attacks came through on the radio.

For those shepherds who witnessed the events of that first Christmas, I am sure the details of that night were never ever forgotten.

The night probably started like every other night. The sheep were safely gathered in the fold, all accounted for. Sitting around the fire to keep warm, the main topics of conversation were the price of lambs and that week’s weather. The craic was good on the hill that night. All around was total darkness, except when a glimmer of moonlight lit up the houses of Bethlehem in the valley below.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a blinding light. Everyone’s panicking and someone, or something, starts talking: “‘Do not be afraid,’” it says. “‘I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour 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’” (Luke 2:10-12). Could this be an angel? No one had ever seen angels before, do they even exist?

All of a sudden this blinding light fills the entire sky, and a multitude of voices can be heard singing in perfect harmony, “‘Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on earth, peace to those on whom His favour rests’” (Luke 2:14). Then, just like that, the night sky returns once again. What has just happened? If it wasn’t for everyone else witnessing the same thing, you’d have thought that it was a dream. But it was very real.

You might think the first people to hear of God’s Messiah being born would have been the political or religious elites. What had the shepherds done to deserve this privilege? Nothing whatsoever. God chose to reveal this great news to them because He is a God of grace – giving people what they don’t deserve.

In fact, the Bible’s filled with examples of God using ordinary, and often the least deserving of people, to do His work. Like Abraham, who lied to a king to save himself, or Jacob, who cheated his uncle, brother and even his own father, then there’s Moses - the murderer. Yet, God poured out His grace to them, calling them to serve Him. In faith, they responded, and ultimately God used them to help accomplish His salvation plan – sending His only Son, Jesus, to earth so that He would take the punishment for our sin.

Hearing the angel’s message, the shepherds also responded in faith, “‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,’” they said (Luke 2:15). After meeting Mary and Joseph, and finding Jesus lying in a manger, all they could think about was sharing this good news with others.

For the shepherds, that first Christmas became a night to remember in so many ways. This Christmas could also be one for you to remember. God still uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, when we hear His call and respond in faith. Why not trust Him like the shepherds this Christmas?

Ronald Annett works for a local animal feed company and helps out on the family farm in the shadow of the Mourne Mountains. He is a member of Mourne Presbyterian Church in Kilkeel, County Down.

If you would like to talk to someone about this article, please email Rev. Kenny Hanna at [email protected] or call him on 028 9753 1234.