During the Advent season leading up to Christmas Day, we have many activities. One major activity in churches is preparing the children and adult choirs to present a beautiful cantata or drama taken from the stories surrounding the birth of Jesus in Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of Matthew features the wise men and a jealous and fearful king, and the Gospel of Luke gives details about angel visitations and shepherds in a field with their sheep. These two parts of the story of Messiah's birth are separated by a time period of approximately two years. Unfortunately, nearly all nativity scenes show both narratives happening in the same place and time. The shepherds and wise men arrive at the cave or stable where the baby Jesus is lying in a manger. They are shown kneeling before the Messiah together. This is not how it happened, and an important prophecy is ignored. I wrote the following poem to explore the amazing significance of these two groups of people who came to Bethlehem to witness the infant Messiah. Remember that the word "advent" means "coming." Jesus has come once, but He is also coming again! Let's celebrate the incarnation - God becoming a man, the Word becoming flesh - along with shepherds and kings!
Also, remember that Jesus' disciples asked what would be the "sign" of His coming. Jesus' answer was: "For as
lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the
coming of the Son of Man.... Then will appear the
sign of the Son of Man in heaven.... And then all the people of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory (Matt. 24:28-30). Jesus also said, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David and the
bright Morning Star" (Rev. 22:16, NIV). What if that star is not the familiar 5-pointed star? What if it is a 6-pointed star, the Star of David? There would be nothing more appropriate than a Jewish star announcing the arrival of a Jewish Messiah to the Jewish capital of Jerusalem to reign as King of the World! (See Zech. 14:1-9.)
SHEPHERDS AND KINGS
Shepherds
with the sheep,
That night they couldn't sleep.
'Twas stirring in the air,
And they had the weight of care.
But look! The
sky above
Shone bright, and they felt love!
Frightened by the sight,
Yet strengthened by the Light.
Angels!
Myriads! Singing!
Across the heavens ringing!
They spoke of just a Baby
Who would be King, not maybe!
The Messiah God appointed
For all men – His Anointed!
The shepherds left their sheep and ran.
They had to see this Baby, grand.
They found Him as the angel said,
Wrapped in cloths in a manger bed.
Why did God choose shepherds low
To visit first and see the glow?
To gaze at Diety's face unveiled,
Then tell the world what they beheld?
God chose shepherds when first He came
To show us all He was the same!
To poor He gave the tidings first -
Good will to man and peace on earth.
God and shepherds, you and me -
His first coming! Can't you see?
Kings from
afar, following a star,
Coming to the place, by His blessed grace.
The star shone bright at night,
Giving them light.
Gentiles, rich and wise,
Looking for the Prize.
No angel had to tell them,
No circumstance compel them.
Traveling through the countryside,
Keeping their gaze on the skies.
Could this show the Second Advent?
Is this a picture of God's intent?
Two years since the Baby came
Could mean two thousand, just the same!
The sign of His coming, a second star?
Look up and hope, the time is not far.
Shepherds and kings speak of these things:
A Lamb for the shepherds,
A Lion for the kings.
Poor and rich, Jesus comes to all –
Lowly, yet kingly – hear the midnight call!
When things get dark, and the journey's long,
Just look for the star
over a world gone wrong.
Jesus will come in the darkness of night,
The Bright Morning Star
bursting forth in the light!
The Good Shepherd laid down
His life for the sheep,
But the King comes to rule
and His promises keep!
by Nancy Petrey - November 29, 1999
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