Meaning of Luke 2:17

The shepherds, having been divinely informed by angelic messengers of Jesus' birth and guided to the manger, were so profoundly impacted by what they witnessed that their immediate response was to disseminate the news. This act of spreading the word was not a casual recounting of an event, but a testimony driven by the extraordinary nature of the angelic pronouncements and the reality of the infant Messiah before them. Their experience transformed them from humble laborers into the first evangelists, their simple yet powerful proclamation serving as the initial public announcement of the Savior's arrival, confirming the truth of the heavenly message and inspiring further belief.

Context and Background

This verse occurs immediately following the angelic visitation to the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem. The angels had announced the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the Lord, and provided a sign to identify him: a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. The shepherds, driven by faith and obedience, "went with haste" to find this promised child. Luke 2:16 describes their arrival at the scene, and Luke 2:17 details their subsequent actions. This moment is crucial as it marks the transition from divine revelation to human witness, initiating the spread of the good news of salvation.

Key Themes and Messages

• Faithful Obedience: The shepherds' immediate journey to Bethlehem demonstrates their prompt obedience to the angelic message, underscoring the importance of responding to divine instruction.
• Witness and Testimony: Their act of "spreading the word" highlights the inherent nature of genuine spiritual experience, which compels individuals to share what they have seen and heard, especially concerning divine truth.
• The Incarnation: The shepherds' confirmation of the infant Jesus as the promised Messiah validates the central Christian doctrine of the Incarnation – God becoming human.
• The Significance of the "Lowly": The first witnesses to the birth of the King of Kings were not the elite or the powerful, but humble shepherds, signifying that God's redemptive plan often begins with those considered insignificant by the world.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse calls believers to be active witnesses of their faith. Just as the shepherds could not contain their awe and joy, those who have encountered Christ are called to share the good news of his birth, life, death, and resurrection. It emphasizes that faith is not meant to be a private experience but a public declaration that can impact others. The shepherds' testimony was the first ripple of the wave of evangelism that would spread throughout the world, showing that even the simplest acts of obedience and proclamation can have eternal consequences.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The spreading of the news about Jesus by the shepherds is the foundational act of evangelism in the New Testament. It directly fulfills Old Testament prophecies that spoke of a coming Messiah who would bring salvation and joy. This event foreshadows the Great Commission given by Jesus to his disciples to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15). The shepherds' actions are a microcosm of the entire redemptive history, where God reveals himself, and humanity responds by sharing that revelation.

Analogies

• A Spark Igniting a Fire: The shepherds' testimony was like a small spark that ignited the fire of the gospel, which would eventually spread throughout the world.
• A First Echo in a Canyon: Their spreading of the word was the first echo of the magnificent announcement of salvation, which would reverberate through history.
• A Seed Planted: Their proclamation was the initial planting of the seed of the gospel message in fertile ground, destined to grow and bear much fruit.

Relation to Other Verses

• Luke 2:10-12: This passage immediately precedes and provides the context for the shepherds' actions, detailing the angelic announcement that spurred their journey and their subsequent testimony.
• John 1:45: Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." This echoes the shepherds' confirmation of Jesus as the prophesied one.
• Acts 4:20: Peter and John, when commanded by the Sanhedrin not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, responded, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." This demonstrates the persistent spirit of witness initiated by the shepherds.
• Romans 10:14: "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preaching?" This verse underscores the necessity of spreading the word, as demonstrated by the shepherds.