Well here it is 2 days before Christmas Eve. That is really the count down for me. I love our open house, candle light service and the night. Our youth pastor brought up a few things that were interesting to me about the Christmas Season. 1. the song Silent Night it is alittle comical but have you ever heard a women give birth?? it is so not silent. 2. He shared a story about shephards that I would like to share before we dive it.
Shepherds were the first to hear of Jesus birth?? Why shepherds?? In this day and age we don't get it. So we need to think outside of ourselves.
Shepherding was a way of life for biblical people, Abraham the father of the jews was a shepherd, Moses, and David the king who established Israels national identitiy.
As the land was settled the shepherds primarily kept their flocks on the fringe of the wilderness. Shepherding was not an easy way of life. Imagine the elements wind, sun, cold, hot they were always with their sheep. Not to mention lions and tigers and bears... (Oh my) At night the shepherd would either put them in a pin (if available) or would make an enclosure and he would lay by the gate to keep sheep in and others out. Now if that is not enough to get you interested listen to this:
Some scholars paoint out theat the place the shephers would have watched the sheep would lay between Bethlehem and Jerusalem 5.5 miles to the north. This location would coincide with the station where shepherds watched the flocks destined for sacrifices at the temple. This would coincide with the late fall or even early winter date for the birth. How interesting that this group of shepherds were the first to hear of the Saviors birth. That the sheep they were watching were destined to be a sacrifice in the Temple. Have you ever heard the saying that Christ was the sacrificial lamb? How cool!!
Also in sheep herding families the night shift was left to the youngest. Young men and women in their teens where the first to see and hear of Christ....
Shephers were the working class and due to their jobs were considered unclean.
Later on Jesus chose the metaphor of the shepherd to discribe himself
Now that we have the background lets get with Luke Chapter 2:
10 Of course the first thing the angel of the Lord would say is "DO NOT BE AFRAID" are you kidding me! After what we have learned if I was a shepherd I would be scared to death not to mention I would feel the need to protect my families sheep!!
14 like one angel would not be enough to scare you their would be a "heavenly host" and singing. As a teenager I can only imagine the thoughts. What if you wake up my dad? The sheep are going to get out. Dude I am trying to get some sleep here... (Gotta love a teenager!)
19 Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart...
36 Anna was a prophetess was very old widowed from a young age She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. When Mary and Joseph were in the temple she (Anna) came up to the gave thanks to God and spoke about the child.
46 How interesting that when He stayed behind they found Him on the 3rd day!!
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