Why Shepherds?

“In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.’…They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.” (Luke 2:8-12,16)

Why did God choose shepherds? Out of all the people in and around Bethlehem, was there no one more worthy to hear the good news than some simple shepherds?

A little known fact is that Bethlehem shepherds tended to the flocks of sheep that would become temple sacrifices. If these were in fact the shepherds that visited Jesus, then the shepherds were common, but their sheep were not. They were innocent lambs chosen to pay the price for guilty man.

So simple shepherds, yes. Simple lambs, no, not really.

That is the heart of the Christmas story, isn’t it? Simple shepherds, simple surroundings, simple parents, but a Baby that was anything but common. He was born to save the world. He was born to buy back the Earth and all in it…to restore, resurrect, reconcile. It would cost Him His life, but He came here anyway. He entered our world through the womb of a teenage girl and she laid Him in a manger. For the night all was well. He was here with us.

Can you picture the scene with me? It was so…so very…ordinary. The stable probably smelled. The animals were probably restless. There is Mary…exhausted from the donkey ride, yet in pain from birthing a Son. Her eyes are heavy…she will be sleeping along with her Baby very soon. And then there is Joseph. His eyes are also begging to close. The stress of the past day was riveting, maneuvering a laboring Mary thought a crowded street on a donkey, finding a place to stay, delivering the Baby… now in the calm of the night, sleep beckons him. But he dare not take his eyes off the Child. He must protect his King.

So, why did God send shepherds? Remember they were not just any shepherds. These were shepherds who tended the lambs that would be brought before the Lord in the temple. Of all shepherds these were the most respected. They were strong, godly men with gentle, humble hearts. They walk in, look around the ordinary scene. As strange as it was, there was no mistaking what the angels had said. “A Baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” They fall to their knees, tears streaming down wrinkled, weathered faces. They have found their Savior and their Lord.

And so Joseph gazes once more at sleeping Mary, and the stirring Baby and then closes his eyes. He has traveled a long journey, and has an even longer one ahead of him. For now, he must rest. God has sent the shepherds, to watch over the little, innocent Lamb.

Could they have known that this Lamb too would be sacrificed for a guilty people? Only this time, He would choose to get on the altar. He would choose to become the sacrifice. And this time and only through this Lamb it would be once and for all.