And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:8
When you see the word shepherd, what comes to mind?
Do you visualize middle-aged weather-worn men like I did?
That’s probably not the reality. Most likely, these shepherds would be teenagers and probably even preteens. It was such a lowly position to hold.
For years, I thought these would be older well-worn adults. The account of David tending sheep as a teenager is one of those iconic backdrops presented in the Tanakh. Being a shepherd was like an entry level position. It would not be surprising that it would be reserved for the younger ones in the family.
Most of us are familiar with the setting, Mary had just given birth the Jesus. Luke’s narrative then focuses on the humblest of people… The shepherds. Imagine yourself in the field that night.
And then an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.
Luke 2:9
Shepherds… Who sleep with the flocks. Shepherds… Who ward off predators of the sheep. Shepherds… Who probably spend lots of time alone with their thoughts.
Out in the fields at night, it’s dark and most likely chilly. Suddenly, it’s as bright as day and an angel appears. There was no warning of anything approaching them or the flock. It was just there in a moment… Fight or flight!
Just another night in the field performing a humbling task and seemingly adding to the humility a sudden appearing of a being surrounded by the brightest light. The mind races to fear and then thinks, there’s no where to run for escape. Wait! That spectacular being speaks…
But the angel said to them, “Listen! Do not fear. For I bring you good news of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:10–12
The first to hear the announcement of the Messiah were shepherds. Messiah had been born, not at home, but in someone else’s barn. While the mind might just begin to ponder the strange and exceeding lowliness of the situation contrasted to the pomp and splendor of the announcement…
Suddenly there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Luke 2:13–14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men.”
What would you do?
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Luke 2:15
A moment of panic turned into joy and excitement. Let’s go see!
So they came hurrying and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.
Luke 2:16
Those shepherds wasted no time. They went directly to the place where the announced Messiah is.
Just in this little scenario is a simple presentation of the Gospel. Think back to when you first heard of Jesus. I’m certain before the good news was heard, there was that momentary sensation of panic. One that there is nowhere to hide from an ever-present God Who knows all things. What to do?
The mind reels. Wait! There’s a Savior?
Hurry, let’s go see!
Everyone’s response should be to run to Jesus. These shepherds went and witnessed what was announced for themselves. But…There’s more.
When they had seen Him, they made widely known the word which was told them concerning this Child.
Luke 2:17
They spread the Good News far and wide.
And all those who heard it marveled at what the shepherds told them.
Luke 2:18
The first evangelists were most likely children… Teenagers and preteens. That fact alone might shock some, but there is more to this account.
In the ancient near east, common practice was for the youngest children to tend the flocks. It wasn’t just male children that shepherded. But there would also be girls who shepherded. The practice continues today in Israel.
Some of the earliest texts in the Bible testify to that fact, too.
Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he dwelled by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Then shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
Exodus 2:15–17
Moses met the daughters of Reuel, they were tending to their father’s flock. This seems to be another iteration of a subtle theme.
When Jacob fled Esau at his mother’s bidding… He went to his uncle Laban. He goes east and finds a well. He asks the gathered shepherds about his uncle.
Then he said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?”
Genesis 29:5–6
And they said, “We know him.”
He said to them, “Is he well?”
And they said, “He is well, and here is Rachel his daughter coming with the sheep.”
Everything in the Bible is there by design. I had not paid any attention to these little details. But are there, shockingly obvious, and very satisfying.
It’s fascinating that the announcement of Jesus’ birth came to teenagers. Not just boys, but a probable mix of boys and girls. These would be ready to receive such glad tidings. The spectacle was not reserved for old-barnacled men. Perhaps that was one of those things Mary pondered about.
When these witnesses spread the word of what transpired that night, Those heard marveled, not just at the account, but most likely because it was coming from teenaged boys and girls.
Let that delight settle into your consciousness.
Master's Crumbs 