“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds— his name is
the Lord – and rejoice before him.” Psalm 68:4
The Bible does not mention the actual day Jesus was born. December 25 was the birthday of Mithra, the pagan god of light. The Roman emperor Constantine reassigned this date as the birthday of Jesus, the true God of light. We know he was born at night-time since Luke 2:8 tells us, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night.” The first inquirers of Jesus were shepherds who perhaps supplied lambs for the temple sacrifices performed for the forgiveness of sin.
The shepherds were terrified when an angel of the Lord appeared telling them, “’Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby, wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:10-14
After the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds now filled with courage and anticipation said, “’Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” (verse 15) The shepherds found Mary, Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger. We learn in Luke 2:17-20, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.”
Ezekiel wrote about Israel’s leaders, the Jews in captivity from both northern and southern kingdoms as bad shepherds and good shepherds in Ezekiel chapter 34. The prophet Ezekiel predicted the coming of the Messiah in verses 23, 24. “I will place over them one shepherd my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them.” God would send a perfect shepherd, the Messiah, to care for every need and build a kingdom of perfect peace and justice. Peace in this context refers to absence of conflict, contentment, fulfillment, and security.
Shepherds were thought to have a lowly social position. But the good shepherd often slept in the pen with his sheep caring for them as Jesus the Good Shepherd cares for his flock or followers. The shepherd also acted as a gate allowing the sheep in the pen and protecting them. Jesus is our protection and the gate to God’s salvation. The shepherd owns his sheep and is committed to tending them out of love just as Jesus committed to love us and lay down his life for us.
John 10:11 states, “’I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’” Thus it is not surprising God chose shepherds to be the first to hear the gospel.
The Bible does not mention the actual day Jesus was born. December 25 was the birthday of Mithra, the pagan god of light. The Roman emperor Constantine reassigned this date as the birthday of Jesus, the true God of light. We know he was born at night-time since Luke 2:8 tells us, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night.” The first inquirers of Jesus were shepherds who perhaps supplied lambs for the temple sacrifices performed for the forgiveness of sin.
The shepherds were terrified when an angel of the Lord appeared telling them, “’Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby, wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:10-14
After the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds now filled with courage and anticipation said, “’Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” (verse 15) The shepherds found Mary, Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger. We learn in Luke 2:17-20, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.”
Ezekiel wrote about Israel’s leaders, the Jews in captivity from both northern and southern kingdoms as bad shepherds and good shepherds in Ezekiel chapter 34. The prophet Ezekiel predicted the coming of the Messiah in verses 23, 24. “I will place over them one shepherd my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them.” God would send a perfect shepherd, the Messiah, to care for every need and build a kingdom of perfect peace and justice. Peace in this context refers to absence of conflict, contentment, fulfillment, and security.
Shepherds were thought to have a lowly social position. But the good shepherd often slept in the pen with his sheep caring for them as Jesus the Good Shepherd cares for his flock or followers. The shepherd also acted as a gate allowing the sheep in the pen and protecting them. Jesus is our protection and the gate to God’s salvation. The shepherd owns his sheep and is committed to tending them out of love just as Jesus committed to love us and lay down his life for us.
John 10:11 states, “’I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’” Thus it is not surprising God chose shepherds to be the first to hear the gospel.
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