When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Luke 2:15-16 (ESV)

When [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:10-11 (ESV)

The first Christmas story demonstrates God's heart is for those who are oppressed, marginalised, and forgotten. Shepherds and wise men both represent outcasts and outsiders in the society of that time. Shepherds were despised and considered ceremonially unclean according to human tradition. The wise men were Gentiles and were seen as unworthy of God's mercy. Despite this, Jesus' first visitors were "unclean" Jews and "unworthy" Gentiles.

Whom the world rejects—God accepts in the beloved through Jesus Christ.

The story of the shepherds who heard the angels and the wise men who were led by the star shows us only two kinds of people who would follow Jesus. The shepherds are simple and unassuming people who know nothing but are wise enough to follow Jesus. The wise men are learned people who know almost everything but are humble enough to follow Jesus.

The gospel is for everyone.

But only the very simple and the very learned discover God. Many of them have a personal encounter with God before coming to know Him as He is revealed in Christ. As with the shepherds and wise men, some people may encounter God through supernatural circumstances and events, while others may encounter God through rational or logical deductions of the beauty and order of creation. Whatever means God employs to reach us, it must ultimately point us to Christ and cause us to exalt and worship Him.

We who were once outsiders are now insiders because of Jesus.

Our encounter and relationship with Christ have the potential to transform both us and those around us. The shepherds glorify the newly born Christ by spreading the good news and the wise men honour the newborn King by laying their treasures before Him. Their stories tell us worship and mission go together. Worship without mission results in empty praise, and mission without worship results in empty service.

If you learn to live out the gospel in your worship and mission to the world, God will give you the words and wisdom to point others to Jesus.