Smelly Shepherds and God’s Glory

The Angels and the Shepherds

The story of Jesus’ birth is full of wonder and surprise, but few moments are as startling as the angelic announcement to the shepherds. These humble workers, often overlooked by society, became the first to hear the news that would change the course of history. God’s choice to reveal the birth of His Son to shepherds and to have Him born in a manger reflects His personal humility and deep love for the lowly, the ordinary, and the overlooked.

Smelly Shepherds and God’s Glory

In the fields near Bethlehem, shepherds watched over their flocks. These men weren’t the elites of society; they were rough, simple folk doing a gritty job. In first-century Judea, shepherds weren’t considered important. They spent their lives outdoors, away from the ceremonial cleanliness required by religious law. Many viewed them as untrustworthy or even unclean. Yet, it was to these unassuming individuals that heaven chose to break its silence.

Why shepherds? The answer lies in God’s character. Throughout Scripture, God shows a pattern of choosing the humble and overlooked to accomplish His purposes. Mary, an obscure girl from Nazareth, was chosen to bear the Messiah. David, a young shepherd boy, became Israel’s greatest king. Over and over, God demonstrates that He values the heart over status or appearance and displays his power through human weakness.

The Angels’ Announcement

On that night, as the shepherds went about their usual work when the ordinary gave way to the extraordinary. An angel of the Lord appeared, and the glory of God lit up the fields (Luke 2:9). This wasn’t a warm, fuzzy moment. The shepherds were terrified! In Jewish thought, angels often accompanied God’s judgment. The appearance of a “host” of angels might easily have made them think of armies and battle. Were they about to face divine wrath?

But the angel’s message wasn’t one of judgment. Instead, it was good news: 

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). 

The angel announced the birth of the Saviour, Christ the Lord, in the city of David. A multitude of heavenly beings joined in, praising God and declaring peace on earth for those who receive His favour (Luke 2:13–14).

This must have felt surreal for shepherds accustomed to being ignored or despised. The very presence of angels and the glory of God proclaimed something no one expected.

The King in the Manger

The angel didn’t direct the shepherds to a palace or a grand temple. Instead, the sign they were given was shockingly simple: “You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

There is nothing extraordinary here; local babies were wrapped in cloths, and mangers were good makeshift cribs, except that this baby was the long-awaited King, the Messiah, the Lord! Yet, this was God’s deliberate choice.

Jesus’ birth in such humble circumstances speaks volumes about God’s heart. He could have entered the world in majesty and splendour, but instead, He chose to meet humanity in its brokenness and simplicity. The manger shows us that God is not distant or unapproachable. He enters the mess of our lives, meeting us right where we are.

The shepherds didn’t hesitate. They hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, just as the angel had said. Seeing the infant Messiah lying in a manger confirmed the truth of the angel’s words. For these shepherds, the reality of God’s humility and grace was on full display.

God’s Glory in the Ordinary

The setting of Jesus’ birth wasn’t just humble—it was ordinary, not what you expect from The King. The family likely stayed on the ground floor of a family home, where animals were kept. Bethlehem was a small, insignificant town, far from the grandeur of Jerusalem. Yet God chose this place and these circumstances to make His grand entrance into the world.

This pattern is consistent with God’s ways throughout Scripture. He chooses the weak to shame the wise. He chose Abraham and Sarah, who were way past having children to bear Isaac; he chose Zachariah and Elizabeth, who were the same but had John the Baptist. Then, there is Jesus, the God-man, who defeated evil through abject weakness.

The angels’ song—“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14)—captures this tension between the heavenly and the earthly. God’s glory fills the highest heavens, but His peace comes to the lowly on earth instead of judgment. The shepherds, the manger, and the small town of Bethlehem all point to a God who delights in upending human expectations.

Peace with God

This peace isn’t merely the absence of conflict. It’s the restoration of a broken relationship. Humanity’s rebellion against God created a chasm that no amount of good works or religious effort could bridge. But in Jesus, God made a way for reconciliation. The angels’ proclamation points to the heart of the Gospel: 

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1, ESV)

Living in the Light of the Shepherds’ Story

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of the Church celebrity culture and the various trends that come and go. The shepherds’ story calls us to respond to Jesus’ birth with faith, humility, and, of course, joy. Like the shepherds, we are invited to approach the King, to marvel at God’s grace, and to share the good news with others. 

As you enjoy Christmas, remember to celebrate the King of Kings who came not in grandeur but in grace and truth, not to condemn but to save. And He invites each of us to draw near, to receive His peace, and to share His love with a world in need.

Go well, my friend 😃

For a video with more about the shepherds, click here.

For another post on the manger, click here