Baaah Baaah Baaah Baaah – that is my best imitation of sheep in writing, not that in person is really much better. What can I say; animal imitations are not my thing. But this sound is commonly heard in churches this time of year, coming out of the mouths of too cute children who forget lines, yell lines, and everything in between. This is the time of year when those children act out the birth of Christ, including the shepherds in the fields, thus the sheep.
The actual shepherds out in the fields, had an important responsibility and they were chosen specifically to hear the good news of the birth of Jesus. Why shepherds? These are not political leaders, they weren’t the wealthy social leaders, they were laborers. Yet, these laborers had special responsibility – they were in charge of the sheep.
I love driving past farms with new lambs out in the pastures. They are so cute with their spindly legs and fuzzy furry bodies. However, sheep are a metaphor that are used over and over in the New Testament. Sheep, a gaggle of furry followers that don’t have much of an ability to protect themselves from predators, need looked after, and will wander off and get lost.
It was to the shepherds that the angel appeared. I wonder what the sheep did – startle and run to the edges of the pen perhaps, or maybe they were less scared of angels than the shepherds were. An angel messenger came – and the “glory of the Lord shone around him,” (Luke 2: 9). These men were terrified, this is not nervous or startled – but terrified! The angel said -"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people,” (Luke 2:10). Not just good new, but good news of great joy. Not just for some people, but for all the people!
What was the good news? “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord,” (Luke 2:11). Imagine the jaws that had to be scraped up off the ground that night, not from being speechless but from being knocked down with fright. God’s love is so completely overwhelming. Have you ever noticed, that angels start with a message of do not be afraid? Do not be afraid, for God has….that seems to be the pattern that this typically takes.
God sent messengers to shepherds, which is such a beautiful symbol of how God cares for us. Sheep need attention to their health, protection from predators, gathered into a pen for the night, and have wounds tended to. We as a flock of people, a body of Christ are very similar. We need attention paid to our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Just like having a regular physical is something that is recognized as a standard health care, the shepherd knew his sheep and would prepare to take care of their health needs on a regular and as needed bases. Our shepherd, God also takes care of our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. By prayer, praise, exercise, eating well, and really developing the relationship with Him that our heart seeks, and He seeks for us – we gain health. This is a sacrifice for our shepherd because we are messy sheep. We will bounce into him, possibly even try to ram him, struggle when given medicine, put up a fight when it comes to having a thorn removed or a cut stitched up.
Sheep also are not good at protecting themselves. They need a warrior who will protect them from wolves, lions, the dangerous animals which see sheep as an easy meal. Satan is described to us as a roaring lion. At night, sheep were put in a pen with only one entrance/exit. The shepherd slept there to keep the sheep in and the predators out. We also need a protector, who can and will fight for us, who positions Himself to be our guardian.
I am just amazed over and over how God uses those who are not the obvious choices to take a central role in His story. Shepherds out in the field, doing their daily and nightly job – just being there with the sheep are such a beautiful comparison of what God is to us. Have you recognized your shepherd lately in your life?
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