Luke lifts up the lowly

By entering human history as He did, especially in the announcements to the lowly shepherds, God identified with the powerless, the oppressed, the poor, the homeless. Among THEM God would do a new work. Shepherds were despised people. Although the reference to shepherds evokes a positive, pastoral image for us – and though it underscores Jesus’ association with King David (1 Sam 16:11; 17:15; Ps. 78:70) – by the first century, shepherds were scorned as shiftless, dishonest people who grazed their flocks on others’ lands.

Ironically – and, I suspect, on purpose – Luke begins his story with Caesar Augustus (representing the human conception of power) and ends with the shepherds in Bethlehem (revealing the real source of power). Mary’s song (Luke 1:46-56) exalts the humble and lowly celebrating, in fact, that God would put down the rich and powerful. This is precisely what we see going on as Augustus orders the “worldwide” census while God is slipping in the back door. Augustus – and his empire – are but shadows in the dustbin of history. Jesus is still worshiped and obeyed. Wow.