Long ago, Elohim knew that the angels would go tell the shepherds about Jesus. Elohim also knew that I would be sitting here, thousands of years later, filled with wonder and trying desperately to imagine what it must have been like to be there.
What did it look like when, “the glory of the Lord shone around them?” What did the voices of the angels sound like? What did they expect the angels to say? They must have been shocked when the angels went away and the night looked exactly as it had before, but it was different—all of a sudden the existence of a King changed it all.
Did they run as fast as they could? Did they take their sheep? Were their hearts leaping out of their chests? Did they feel any confusion?
Did they know the Scriptures and the prophecies? Was it anything like they thought it would be? What about when they went home? They were the only ones that saw it with their own eyes. Did they even have the words to describe the majesty of the King in a manger?
Did they hear about Herod’s decree of slaughter and fear for the boy’s life? Did they wonder and wait only to hear about the horrible crucifixion of this beautify boy? Did they die before they ever got a chance? Did they hear of the rest of the story—where He was alive again? Were they full of wonder once again, running around and proclaiming to everyone that they saw, just as they did on that first night:
“The King! He is here! He has life and breath, and He lives among us! Emmanuel is here.”
….
Luke 2:8-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men [cwith whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [dmanger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.