Welcome to Church of the City, New York's Advent Devotionals.

Jesus was good news in the first century, and he is still good news today.

In the Christmas stories recounted in Scripture, people always responded to Jesus with

amazement and praise. This response came from deep longings and heartbreak being met with God breaking in to

fulfill his promises, offer his forgiveness, bring his justice and peace, and extend his love.

This Christmas, we hope you will have your own encounter with the person of Jesus and the

good news of his birth.

And like those of old,

let your song of praise resound to the world around you.

Today's reading comes from Luke chapter 2 verses 15 to 20. When the angels had left them and

gone into heaven, the shepherd 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.

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 shepherd said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things

and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the

things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Advent is a season to reflect on the whole story of the birth of Jesus, and the role of the shepherds

must be acknowledged.

Luke highlights the shepherds as the people God first chose to deliver the good news

regarding his son, the Messiah.

Shepherds were not royalty or even culturally significant.

They were the outsiders, and the specific group was on a night watch while the rest of the world slept.

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