The Bible

 

Luke 2:8-20 : The Shepherds Visit Jesus in Bethlehem

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8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Commentary

 

Shepherds in the Fields

By Junchol Lee

The Annunciation to the Shepherds, By Henry Ossawa Tanner - http://www.artnet.de/artist/16406/henry-ossawa-tanner.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4864375


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One of the most significant events, if not THE most significant event, in human history is the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of humanity. Christ's birth had been prophesied by many, but it was Isaiah who gave us the fullest and most detailed description of the Messiah's coming. It is notable that besides Mary and Joseph, shepherds were the only individuals allowed to visit Jesus on the night of his birth. Why only shepherds? What is the spiritual significance of the shepherds? We will explore this question.

(References: Isaiah 46:3)

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Scriptural Confirmations #67

  
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67. 3. That from good works that may glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12).

Charity is described in various ways (1 Peter 3:8, 9, 11).

Charity covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Whoso shall keep His Word and His commands, in him is the love of God; hereby we know that we are in Him (1 John 2:4-6).

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and he that hateth his brother is in darkness (1 John 2:9-11).

Similar is the case of him who loves the world (verses 15, 16).

Whosoever doeth not justice, and loveth not his brother is not of God (1 John 3:10-11, 14-15).

Let us not love in word and tongue, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18).

Let us love one another, for love is of God, for God is love, etc. (1 John 4:7-9).

No one hath seen God at any time. If we love another, God abideth in us (1 John 4:12).

If any one say I love God, but hateth his brother, he is a liar, for he who loves God loves his brother also (1 John 4:19-21).

Everyone that loveth Him that begat him loveth Him that is born from Him (1 John 5:1, 2).

By this we know that we love the sons of God, when we keep the commandments of God; and he loves God (1 John 5:2-3).

This is love, that we walk according to His commandments (2 John 1:6; 1 John 5:2).

He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God (3 John 1:11).

If God so loved us, we ought to love one another (1 John 4:11).

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.