The Christ of Christmas—Our Shepherd-King
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15 NKJV)
Do you have a manger scene in your home? If so, take a moment to study it.
You’ll see the characters from that first Christmas night—Joseph and Mary, shepherds and sheep, angels, all sorts of livestock, and of course, the manger with the baby Jesus in it. Wise men are often in there, too, although their arrival probably didn’t happen until Jesus was a toddler.
Have you ever considered the sharp contrasts on display here? The Messiah’s birth was announced to a low socioeconomic level of Judea’s society (shepherds) by extraterrestrial beings (angels) while a spectacular star brought the highly educated elite from a distant country (magi).
What started as an ordinary, quiet evening turned into an extraordinary, unforgettable night. Shepherds, yawning in the darkness of the hills outside Bethlehem, were startled by the arrival of a messenger angel who surrounded them with brilliant light—the glory of the Lord.
They were terrified, of course, but the angel reassured them that this was a happy greeting. Christ—the Messiah—had arrived, and the shepherds were invited to go worship Him. As if one angel wasn’t enough, the heavens were filled with a multitude more, pulling out all the stops in their rapturous music.
Can you imagine being among this ragged crew of herdsmen that night who were given this astonishing privilege to meet the Lord of the universe? And they found Him in a lowly manger! Maybe it was God’s way of showing all of us Jesus’ future ministry as our loving, humble Shepherd—the One who would bring us back from being lost…take us gently in His arms…lead us through the valley of the shadow of death to His green pastures…and restore our souls.
From a different country and perspective, the wise men recognized that this tiny baby was royalty, far above all earthly rulers. They had seen His spectacular star in the East, and they traveled a long and arduous distance to Bethlehem. They wanted to acknowledge Jesus’s nobility with their costly gifts. Their perseverance in making this journey revealed their belief in Christ’s identity as a sovereign ruler, above all other kings on earth.
Two groups of people. Two different backgrounds. Two different guides—an angel and a star. Two different views of this Messiah…and yet both views are correct.
People have seen Jesus as many things—Savior, Teacher, Healer, Friend, Lamb of God, and more. Joseph and Mary would know Him as their Son as well as the Son of God.
How will you know Jesus this Christmas? Have you seen Him as your Friend and loving Shepherd? Do you need Him as your Healer? What about your Prince of Peace in a season of anxiety or sadness? Will you know Him as your Joy and Comfort? Will you ultimately recognize Him as your Savior King?
My hope is that you will rejoice in all the wonderful gifts Christ brings you this Christmas, as He fulfills all His roles in your life. May He touch Your heart with His love and grace, to breathe new life into your heart.
Let’s kneel now with humility and thanksgiving before Jesus, the Christ Child, our Shepherd and King. He is, above all, love’s pure light.
Holy Jesus Christ—Savior of the world, King of the Universe, loving Shepherd who guards His sheep—I come to You this season in humility and awe, that You would leave Your heavenly home to live among us and rescue us. I ask Your forgiveness for failing so often to recognize Your kingship in my life. Please grant me Your love, joy, and peace as I celebrate this beautiful season with You. Let me shout with the angels, “Glory to God in the Highest!” In Your royal name, Amen.
Nancy C. Williams is a Christian wife/mom with a writing career spanning more than 40 years in business and journalism. Williams is the author of the novel To Love a Falcon and the devotional book A Crocus in the Desert: Devotions, Stories, and Prayers for Women Experiencing Infertility. Her blogs are featured on Crossmap.com and AriseDaily. To follow Nancy’s posts and news, go to her home page at NancyCWilliams.com and subscribe at the bottom.
© Copyright 2025 Nancy C. Williams (text and photography). Unless otherwise noted, Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #shepherd #king #Christmasangel #princeofpeace #joy #hope #comfort
