The Good Shepherd and the Great King
The Christmas season is unique. It is a time when eyes twinkle, noses and taste buds are put into good use, and stomachs are full. It’s a time when reindeer fly, Frosty rules, and hearts are warmed with hope and expectancy. Its glory is even more apparent around the church. One step into our Sanctuary, and you will see the beauty of Christmas - garland hung, wreaths placed, the tree aglow. Christmas, truly, is a special time.
But it wasn’t always so. The first Christmas was probably nothing like our own celebrations. There were no colored lights, no punch or soda, no snacks, and definitely no festivities. It was Joseph and Mary, the baby Jesus, and shepherds (and don’t forget the animals) Ah...those shepherds what do we know about them? Not much.
These shepherds were the “ordinary Joe’s” of their day. They faithfully went about their work, ignoring the disdain they received from the residents of the city. Normally, shepherds were looked down upon in the first century culture, if not despised altogether. I have always wondered why there are no names given of any of the shepherds at the birth of Jesus and have concluded that this is the way they wanted it. They were just the common folk, blessed by God to see the King of kings before His introduction to the world.
The “job description” of a first-century shepherd was more complex that you may think. They were to lead the sheep to green pastures, positioning the sheep to eat as much as they could. The shepherds were also to protect the sheep from wild animals and to guard them from human thieves. They were also told to count the sheep and be able to give an exact number of all their flock to their owner. Nothing like the cute kids we see walking down the aisles during our church Christmas plays. Nothing of the sort. They were the lowest of the low. Because of their work with animals, they were banned from the temple because of their “impurity.”
The Bible, however, paints a different picture. We all know Psalm 23 as it begins, “The Lord is my shepherd…” Wait…hold up. I thought shepherds were despised by the rich, unclean, and unfit for temple service. Yes, that’s correct. Jesus identified with their unworthiness, their humbleness, and their paltry beginnings. Amos 3:12 adds a different kind of “Superman” job description - “one who rescues from the mouth of the lion.” (Yeah, the profession of a shepherd just left me as one of my life’s ambitions.)
Yet, despite all these characteristics, Jesus, Himself, identified with this profession. Let us be clear: Jesus did not have being a physical “shepherd” on his resume; on His spiritual qualifications, however, He did. In John 10:11, He turns the tables on the “dirty” profession of shepherding. He proudly proclaims, “I am the good shepherd.” (The entire first century readers gasped!) He continues, “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Jesus was not just a good Shepherd; the author of Hebrews describes Him as the “Great Shepherd.” Remember, shepherds were the low-lifes, the ashamed, the aloof. The author, flips society (once again) on its head, and proclaims Jesus as “great.” Yeah, that’s my kind of Shepherd.
It is of note that only Luke gives us any notations of the shepherds. These “low-life” dirty men acted just as we would at the birth of Jesus. In Luke 2, we gain a glimpse, not into their previous life, but a snapshot of their lives just the birth of Christ. They were dutiful - doing their jobs, working the midnight shift. They were expectant - keeping watch over their flocks. Then, out of nowhere, the angel appeared to and they were suddenly afraid. One forgotten quality is the shepherds were available. They lived in the moment, and were not afraid to change their plans at a moment’s notice.
After coming and seeing God’s Son wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger, a change occurred. From being outcasts and low-lifes they became obedient to the angelic message. While Mary was “pondering,” the shepherds were “going.” They were excited to tell the entire world what they had seen. They left glorifying and praising God for what they had seen.
Look back at the words that are italicized. They give us an indication of how we should conduct ourselves at Christmas time. Nowhere to be found are the snacks and punch, the ugly sweaters or the new earrings. Strip all that away - notice what we have: just Jesus. I believe that’s the way God always intended it to be.