Were they anticipating?

• Luke 2:1 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:2 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:3 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:4 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:5 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:6 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:7 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:8 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:9 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:10 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:11 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:12 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:13 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:14 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:15 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:16 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:17 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:18 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:19 (NIV84)
• Luke 2:20 (NIV84)

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As Jews they were expecting the Messiah. But as bottom-of-the-pecking-order shepherd, they probably assumed the word of His arrival would be passed on to them.

They would go to temple and hear about it from their rabbi.

Surely they didn't know they were the FIRST to hear this Good News! Their greater shock may have been when they realized that. God spoke to us first?!?

What do learn about the character of God from this?

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