This morning, Christmas morning, over coffee, my husband spontaneously read Luke 2 to us, aloud. The story of the birth of the Lord Jesus; the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords into the earth He created. He, the one who made Heaven and Earth and all things came to us as a little baby, in need of warmth, food, comfort and care; just like us.

All of heaven celebrated the King’s arrival on earth, and the exhuberance of the angel army that accompanied Him burst out in praise! The nearness of Heaven burst out in their exultation of the long awaited new reality for the people of Earth. Emmanuel had come to be here with us!

As proof of this newness, the angel tasked with announcing this amazing truth did not tell the High Priest. He did not go to the Sanhedrin. He did not make a rubber-stamped official pronouncement in boilerplate language. No.

Instead, the new reality — he announced this good news of great joy to the lowliest of people, the shepherds who worked and slept in the fields with the sheep. Heaven spoke directly to them and invited them to a ‘bedside visit.” Heaven made itself known, seen, heard and experienced to them personally! Perhaps the second greatest announcement ever made on earth was not reserved for someone greater; it was made first to them.

The breakthrough declaration so captivated the shepherds, that they had to go and see for themselves! “Let’s go see this thing that has happened that the Lord has told us about” they said. Woohoo!

In the past the Lord spoke through the prophets. An announcement of this magnitude would have been released through a prophet or many prophets. But this time, Emmanuel (God with us) has come to us. Heaven broke through to be with us, to speak directly with us. He shares His plans, His heart, His mind with those He calls friend. Since His beautiful and humble birth, He dwells here with us by His Spirit. He gave a warm and encompassing invitation through this announcement to all people. Come. Come and know Me. See me, touch me. No appointment necessary.

After seeing, hearing, touching the face of God in a tiny and helpless babe, the shepherds went back to their flocks “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” How could they not share this good news they had personally experienced? They told everyone. They were overflowing with His presence! The most natural evangelists.

The greatest gift of Christmas is that since this time we too are permitted to hear and see and touch the face of God. He is as close as the breath within me. I may press my head to His glorious head. I may see for myself the overwhelming love in His eyes. I can touch Him, worship Him any moment of every day, in the best conditions and in the worst. He is familiar with my condition, and He comes into my life on purpose. Me! My life! You! Your life! Lord Jesus help us to receive all that you desire to share with us; the precious gift of your nearness. Let me breathe each breath with you. Hold my hand and let me see your face everyday. Thank you that you came so that I may!

⁸ That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

¹⁵ When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. ¹⁷ After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, ¹⁹ but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. ²⁰ The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. (Luke 2:8-20 NLT)