A Christmas message: Salvation is available to all

OPINION:

Shepherds still exist in Israel today. I remember coming across a herd of sheep on our way to the Sea of Galilee years ago. Their guardians were sitting in tents set up along the rocky terrain. It seemed like a portal into biblical times.

From what I can tell, being a shepherd seems just as difficult today as it was thousands of years ago. Shepherds basically live with their sheep, moving them from one location to another while guarding against predators and thieves.

Last Sunday, my pastor, Mike Moran, noted that it is amazing God chose shepherds as the first to receive the news of the birth of the baby Jesus. As we read in the Book of Luke: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to 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.’”

Most people at the time would never have guessed that news of the birth of the Messiah would come to such ordinary people as shepherds. They slept outside with their flocks. They were dirty — even to the point of having fecal matter from the sheep on their clothes and skin — from caring for the sheep. Under Jewish law, this made them unclean and unable to enter the temple without a ceremonial cleansing.

Imagine how shocked those shepherds must have been that night. First, who has ever seen an angel? Understandably, the first words were, “Do not be afraid.” Then they were told about the coming of the Messiah.

It was not the High Priest or other religious leaders who learned the news first. Not Caesar or the other Roman leaders. Instead, God chose shepherds to hear the important news of the birth of his one and only Son.

It is a powerful reminder to all of us. Christmas is about the good news of the birth of Jesus. This causes great joy as Christ came to serve as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins — which means we can have eternal life if we follow Him. This gift is available to all people. 

Then, as it is now, the news was amazing. Luke goes on to say: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”

Christmas is a reminder that our Savior, the one true Messiah, Lord of all, came to live on earth as a human. God loved us so much that he sent his one and only Son to let us know that if we believe in Him we will have eternal life. This is the blessing of Christmas.

We continue to read in the Book of Luke that the shepherds wanted to see the newborn child: “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.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

As my pastor noted, the shepherds heard and responded immediately to the message. It is a good reminder that encountering Jesus requires action, not just receiving information.

To see what the Lord had told them about, the shepherds went and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger. It is then written in the Book of Luke: “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

Ordinary people were chosen by God to be the first to hear about the birth of his Son. In turn, they shared the good news that brings great joy to all people. They were compelled to tell others about what God had revealed to them through the angel and their visit to see baby Jesus.

It is my prayer that you will realize this time of year that the good news is available to you. It will bring great joy. Once you receive it, you must spread the word and praise God. He gave us his Son as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. There is no way to earn eternal life. It is the greatest gift of all — and that is what Christmas is all about.

• Scott Walker is a columnist for The Washington Times. He was the 45th governor of Wisconsin and launched a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He lives in Milwaukee and is the proud owner of a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King. He can be reached at swalker@washingtontimes.com.