The Gospel of Luke | Shepherd’s Salutations | Luke 2.15-20 | revivetexas.org/blog

by | Aug 7, 2025

“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.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2.15-20

A smart move on the part of the shepherds to go to Bethlehem and see the baby born in the manger. I find it amusing that Scripture records their conversation with each other: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Why is that recorded? Was there any doubt they would go? Just go! Do it! See the baby.

Once they did, realizing they had just seen the Savior of the world, the Christ, the Messiah, they left and “spread the word concerning what had been told about the child.” There’s an important lesson here—our faith is not supposed to be private. Everyone who encountered an angel or the Lord in the first few chapters of Luke went and told someone about it. We must do the same. It’s not a private faith—there is really no such thing.

So the shepherds came and left, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.” But Mary—now Mary does something different. She wasn’t being used as an evangelist like the shepherds. She was the Theotokos—the God-bearer. She was the one who would receive the salutations, raise the child to love God, and accept all the honor, praise, and recognition for bearing the Christ. Everyone had a role in the story, including Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, without whom the prophecy of the Messiah coming through the line of David would not be fulfilled.

Every role, every part matters. The angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, and, most importantly, Jesus—even as a baby, His part would matter most. He was born to point people to God, to speak God’s word, and to die and rise again, defeating the sins of the world and paving the way for humanity to know their Creator.

How do I know that Christianity is true? There are many religions, saviors, and gods, but there is only One who entered human existence to save His people from their sins. There is only One supported by thousands of manuscripts, hundreds of eyewitness accounts, and historical, archaeological and geographical evidence to substantiate these claims.

What is your role in the birth of the Christ? Have you accepted your place in God’s kingdom? Have you been born again? Have you welcomed Christ into your life and thus become part of the story and the shepherds’ salutation?

“O Lord God, thank You for welcoming us in. Thank You for involving us in Your story. All people are invited to come, to know, to taste, and to see that You are good. Thank You for sending Jesus and for allowing humanity to play a part. Fill me now with the power of Your Holy Spirit, draw me to Your throne, allow me to be holy as You are holy, and to walk in newness of life with You. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen