(Post by: Scott Hobbs)
We were sitting in the living room the other night, and my wife had the TV on one of those perfect Christmas scenes from YouTube. You know, the ones with a cabin, living room, a fire, the tree and lights, and of course a dog sleeping in front of the hearth. The ideal Christmas setting. In the background Christmas music was playing; The First Noel.
I felt led to look up the word “noel.” Did you realize that it comes from the French word for “Christmas carol” or “good news?” It also derives from the Latin for “birthday.” Pretty appropriate as I took in the song with some new insights.
As I thought about this first noel thing, the scene that played out in my mind didn’t look much like the idyllic scene she had on from YouTube.
In the Biblical account, Luke describes the angel of the Lord coming to announce the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, to shepherds out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks.
I mean really. This is not sitting in a warm cabin in front of the fire. These are the 3rd shift working guys. They’re outside, in the field, watching a bunch of dirty sheep. There’s no pomp and stature here man. These are the guys getting the job done in a less than inviting environment. And here comes the first noel.
The angel of the Lord shows up and lets these boys in on the secret that will change the trajectory of men from this point forward. The Messiah has come. There is a way out of the mess that men have created with sin.
Apparently, a large showing of angels, maybe some of the ones that spend their time just worshipping God in Heaven, couldn’t wait and headed down for the announcement. Then right there, in front of all the shepherds, they just started praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”
Congratulations shepherd crew. You boys are the men on whom His favor first rests. You heard the first noel. The first sharing of the Gospel; the good news of a Savior. Happy Birthday Jesus!!
Go see this thing that is just as we told you. It’s going to be incredible if the announcement and worship set you just witnessed were any indicator. But this Jesus thing is going to blow you away because He has come to live among us and show us how to do this earthly life and restore our relationship to the Father.
And look how God started this thing. Not with a worldly king or trumpets or extravagance. No, he started in a barn. In a manger. With a humble couple who were willing to follow Him even when things seemed upside down.
He didn’t break into the middle of a church service that was timed out perfectly so we could all get back to our normal lives. He showed up to a bunch of shepherds in the field and offered them the first noel; the good news of Jesus.
Maybe this account is supposed to teach us something for our lives today. Who will we share the noel with in our lives? This is not something intended to be just for church folk in a service on Sunday morning. That’s not who the angel was sent to. Where are your shepherds? Could it be the folks at your workplace? Your own family at a gathering? A stranger you encounter while shopping this season?
Don’t miss your chance to share Jesus, the true noel, this Christmas season. If you’re available and obedient, God will put you right in the middle of the field with the shepherds.
The Few 
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