Those Shepherds

Housecoats and headbands with a staff in hand; this is our modern-day version of those Christmas shepherds, watching their flocks by night in the fields of Bethlehem.  An angel, in a sky of blazing glory, tells them not to be afraid, as they are receiving the Good News of the birth of the Saviour, Christ the Lord. They would find Him wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.  Their response: “Let us go straight to Bethlehem…” (Luke 2: 8-20).

Looking to history, I think of Moses, (born 1,500 years before Christ), who took care of sheep for 40 years and then lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt.  He said: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me” (Deuteronomy 18:15), namely Jesus. I consider King David, a shepherd from Bethlehem, born approximately 1,000 years before Christ.  He wrote: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1); the Lord to whom he refers is none other than Jesus.

Fast-forward to the stable.  The Good Shepherd, (John 10:11), the Chief Shepherd, (1 Peter 5:4), was lying in a manger- the Lamb of God, (John 1:29).  Sleeping in the feeding trough of lambs and sheep, cows and donkeys.  It is no mistake that lowly shepherds were the first visitors at the stable; they would later rejoice in the one who is known as that Great Shepherd, (Hebrews 13:20).  

As my pastor recently stated: “Humility changes the world,” and those shepherds at the birth of Christ had front row seats to the greatest event in history.  As Christmas approaches, amidst the hurry and scurry, the hustle and bustle, we would do well to let our pride have a great fall and embrace the One who said: “I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

This Christmas, my Mom won’t wake up to the sounds of family in the kitchen, Angel Kitty purring under the tree, and the smell of turkey cooking in the oven.  She will be home for Christmas Day, and for that I am grateful.  She will be embraced by the Shepherd who became the sacrificial Lamb; the one who died on a cross and rose again, to save us from our sins and give us hope for every day.  For those celebrating Christmas in The Home, will you visit them and remind them of the Lamb; the One who is their Shepherd?  

From Mom and I:

Merry Christmas ~ Joyeux Noël
(Photo credit to Michael Carty)