Luke tells of the shepherds but never mentions the wise men. Matthew speaks of the wise men but not the shepherds. The Bible gives us two separate accounts of Jesus' birth and the picture that it paints is a composite of different stories and details.
The wise men travelled from far away. They were mysterious and wealthy. They captured the attention of kings and priests. They came bearing precious gifts for the Christ Child. By contrast, the shepherds lived in nearby fields outside of Bethlehem, they were simple folk who kept to themselves and tended their sheep. They had nothing to offer the baby Jesus but adoration and worship.
The shepherds and wise men could not have been more different, yet they are the only ones recorded in the gospels in the story of Jesus' birth. They did however have something in common: both understood and believed what was being revealed to them, and both trusted and followed. It wasn't something that they simply figured out or pieced together on their own. They were each led to Jesus in their own ways. An angel appeared to the shepherds, and for the wise men it was a star.
The shepherds were tending their sheep in the hills just outside of Bethlehem when angels descended from the night sky to announce the birth of Christ. After hearing the angel's announcement, the shepherds hurried to find Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger. After they had seen Him, they shared the incredible news with others and everyone who heard was amazed! "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
The wise men journeyed from the east and followed a star to find the coming King. They believed that Jesus was “King of the Jews” whose birth had been heralded by a star in the skies, and they wanted to honor Him. When they saw the signs of His coming, they set out to find Him. And when they did, they gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They acknowledged Him as King and they worshipped Him.
Some say that shepherds and wise men represent the spectrum of humanity. The shepherds symbolize the simple while the wise men represent the learned. When you set up your nativity this year, take a closer look. You'll notice different races, different classes, rich and poor, wise and simple. Look even closer at these depictions of the shepherds and wise men and you'll see that despite their differences, they shared a willingness to follow God, a longing to see Him, and a desire to worship Him. Let that be said of us today.
You can find more devotionals and song selections from our Christmas series in the links below:
The following songs remind us of the shepherds and wise men, and the significance of their roles in the story of Jesus' birth. We hope you’ll consider these special songs as you plan and prepare your music for the Christmas season.
Come Let Us Worship Him
Come Let Us Worship Him (with orchestra)
Arranged by Hal Wright
An excellent, uptempo 2-part addition to a Christmas concert or musical! Can be used as the shepherds' song. [Full orchestration available to Unlimited PLUS Members]
Christ Has Come
Christ Has Come (with orchestra)
Arranged by Phillip Keveren
This anthem fully embodies the mystery, wonder and anticipation of Christmas and yet is deceptively accessible. The story of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels and wise men worshiping the Newborn King has never sounded more glorious! [Full orchestration available to Unlimited PLUS Members.]
The First Noel
Arranged by Jeff Jansen
A simple and straight-forward interpretation of the familiar hymn, but with an atmospheric, contemporary touch, this piece is equally suited to both congregational singing and soloist with a small band.
Where Else Would a Lamb Be Born
Arranged by Russell Mauldin
This worshipful reflection of the birth of Jesus is sung from the point of view of a shepherd. Arranged for soloist with SATB choir, this Christmas anthem serves well in blended and light-contemporary settings, and may find a home in traditional services as well.
How Many Kings?
Arranged by Dave Williamson
With powerful lyrics, “How Many Kings” reminds us of our Father's incredible sacrifice of love. For a 4-part choir with a soloist, works well in a blended or contemporary worship service.