122419-3 “The Shepherd’s Perspective!”
The “nativity story” from Luke 2 is so well known to us, many of us could PROBABLY RECITE IT.
But it IS precisely because of that, we may also GLOSS OVER the “terror” and the “amazement” and the “glorious joy” in it.
If we were to put ourselves with the shepherds on that night, we may experience something VERY DIFFERENT from the “warm safety” and “rich beauty” we experience in OUR churches and in our HOMES.
Because at the time Jesus was born, shepherds were among the DIRTIEST, LONLIEST, most AVOIDED people around.
Scholars tell us that keeping herds of animals like SHEEP AND GOATS was a common occupation throughout the “many generations of life” with the people of Israel.
EARLY ON “these herders were wandering nomads.” They lived in tents and owned very little personal property. They moved constantly from place to place in search of food and water for their flocks. They survived by eating and drinking the meat, milk, and cheese their flocks provided, and they used the animals’ wool and skins to cover themselves and to make their tents.
Closer to Jesus’ time, as “URBAN LIFE” became more developed shepherds may have also lived IN OR NEAR villages.
They had the RIGHT to let their flocks FEED in pastures outside the villages.
Landowners and farmers would often HIRE THE SHEPHERDS to help with their harvests, so shepherds were a kind of MIGRANT FARM WORKER.
The life of a shepherd was not EASY.
They spent most of their time OUTSIDE watching their herds, no matter what the weather was, and the temperatures COULD BE EXTREME.
Usually they’d sleep NEAR or WITH their flock to PROTECT the sheep from thieves or wild animals.
Shepherds had TOOLS that could also be used as WEAPONS — a STAFF to ward off enemies, a CROOK to rescue a stray sheep.
They worked IN TEAMS, keeping watches at night, taking turns. Sometimes they’d play a FLUTE to dispel the boredom. It was a LONELY, RAW, HARD LIFE — among the lowest levels of society. Shepherds just WERE NOT admired EVER. They’re even called LOATHSOME or ABHORENT, people then often believed that being a shepherd was a PUNISHMENT of GOD for their ancestors’ UNFAITHFULNESS or so the stories went.
The MORE ORTHODOX of the time DESPISED shepherds, because they lived rather DIRTY LIVES, and couldn’t follow all the DETAILS of the ceremonial LAW. They were UNCLEAN. They couldn’t observe all the METICULOUS HAND WASHING LAWS and regulations of the law. They were “TOO BUSY” dealing with their FILTHY flocks. So others-LOOKED DOWN on shepherds “as very common folk” who should be AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.
And yet… here they are, FRONT AND CENTER in the Christmas story. Here they are, the first people beyond Jesus’ own parents to be told of this GLORIOUS NEWS. The filthy, lonely, hard-working, loathsome shepherds living in the fields with a bunch of dirty animals — God wanted them to hear the good news FIRST.
It is a quiet night, they are watching their flocks, making sure ALL are together and safe. Then BOOM! An angel of the Lord stands before them.
And when the shepherds see the BLINDING GLORY of God that accompanies the angel, they experience a “healthy, holy fear.”
The angel tells them, DO NOT BE AFRAID-yeah right! It’s good news! It’s great joy! For ALL the people — including YOU shepherds!
Today a child is born who will be the SAVIOR, the MESSIAH, the LORD. God has done something “glorious and amazing” — and it’s good news of great joy for ALL OF US.
“AND SUDDENLY there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God…” I love that word “SUDDENLY.” It’s almost as if the praise of God COULD NOT BE contained in heaven —it bursts out in the midst of these simple, rough shepherds, as the whole heavenly host sings “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace….”!
“Let’s go see this thing!” Let’s check it out for OURSELVES! And they do!
God’s good news is for EVERYONE. …For “working-class stiffs” and even for “impoverished shepherds.”
And believe it or not I found some shepherd jokes just for you!
Q: How do sheep greet each other at Christmas? A: Merry Christmas to Ewe!
Q: How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas? A: “Fleece Navidad!”
Q: What do sheep say to each other at Christmas? A: Merry Christmas to EWE.
Q: What is a Sheep’s favorite Christmas carol? A: All I want for Christmas is EWE!
Merry Christmas Everybody!