Christian Living

The Bethlehem Shepherds Part 1

by paul hoffmaster
12/07/22
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On a predetermined day, the promised Messiah was born in the historic city of Bethlehem. The city was located five miles south of Jerusalem.  This quaint little community was the burial place of Rachel, Jacob’s wife.  It was also the area in which Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field.  It was in Bethlehem where David was anointed to be king.  The fields outside of Bethlehem were an ideal place to raise sheep.  Tradition tells us that the sheep that were raised there, were those “without blemish” which would be sold in the Temple to those who did not have a “qualified” sheep to be offered. 

We do not know why God chose this specific day to fulfill the Old Testament prophesies of the coming of the Messiah.  All we know is that God’s timing and revealing of the Messiah was carefully orchestrated. 

Some hours after Jesus’ birth there was a formal announcement of His birth.  It was not to the Sanhedrin or High Priest, nor to Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, or even the Rabbi at the Bethlehem Synagogue. the long-awaited news was made to a small group of shepherds huddled together waiting for daybreak so to move their flocks to an adjoining field.

There had been over 400 years since a prophetic utterance had been made; in fact, there had been no confirmed evidence of Divine intervention during those years of “silence.”  I imagine there had been endless “sermons” and teachings of when the Messiah would come.  Four centuries of unfulfilled Old Testament prophesies laid at the Rabbis’ fingers only to be repeated Sabbath after Sabbath.  Even today there is a tremendous interest as to when Jesus will return.  Books, recordings and sermons, Bible studies fill the atmosphere as “inquiring minds” want to know when He is coming.

I don’t think the Shepherds were so concerned about when the Messiah would come, as they were with dealing with the everyday challenges of life.   Hours before dawn, the long-awaited announcement was made to a simple group of Shepherds.  An Angel engulfed in the “Glory of the Lord” appeared and told them that the Messiah had been born that day in Bethlehem.  The keyword that the angel spoke was that the Messiah was a “Savior.”  He was “Christ the Lord.”   The Angel told them they could go and witness the fulfillment of Scripture.  They would find the baby in a manger (feeding trough).  As soon as the Angel finished speaking a multitude of Angels filled the sky and with a unified voice began to praise God and proclaim “peace and goodwill toward men.” As quickly as the angels appeared, they were gone.  The Shepherds must have sat there trying to understand what had just transpired.  As the sun rose they decided to make haste and check out what had been told them.  They must have questioned early risers where a baby might have been born that day.  Finding the Baby, with the help of the people, they began to share about their experience of a few hours before.  Soon the city was aware that something special was happening.  Some wondered at the Shepherds’ words, while Mary “pondered” them as confirmation of what had been previously revealed to her.  As the Shepherds left they returned glorifying and praising God for all they had experienced.  (Luke 2:8-20)