Shepherds… hardworking, rugged men working and living with smelly, dim-witted sheep day and night. Living in the elements of life in all kinds of weather with the threat of marauders, thieves, coyotes and loneliness.
Faces like leather, splashed with lines of life, worry, time and sun. Hands are large, veined and calloused thick. They are the misfits of society, doing a worthy job of watching and caring for the sheep…but it is dirty job that many did not want to do or esteem.
They wake up this morning unaware that their lives will be changed tonight. They start with morning meditation and prayer and then gather the sheep, goad them to a greener pasture to feed and fresh clear water not far away. The sit and eat their meals of dry bread and fish, perhaps some figs, and olives.
They talk of the ordinary, mundane things of life. They talk of the weather, or a lazy brother or interfering mother in law. Aching backs, feet, hands, and a family that seemingly have forgotten them as they have been away from home for many weeks. Speaking of troubled times and wondering what lies ahead for them. They might talk of the coming Messiah promised in the oral traditions they have heard since they were small children. When will He come to save them from this hard life and oppression of Roman rule?
The day passes and the setting sun reminds them to gather the sheep for the long nights rest. They have been very busy…the sheep a little more skittish and excited today, a little harder to handle. They settle the stubborn, bleating sheep, and sit to rest themselves. They are tired, worn, and ready to drop into an exhausted sleep on the cool desert sand.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to 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."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2)
These smelly, tired shepherds were the ones God choose to announce the coming of the greatest event of all times. The birth of Jesus. Think of the fear, the trembling, the excitement, and the anticipation as they ran a long way to find this baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Imagine as they ran… the yelling, the talking, and the sharing “Did you see that?” “Did you hear that voice?” "I was so frightened." “Did you hear everything he said?” “A Savior is born!” “A Savior is born to us, for us?” “Where we not taking of this this very morning?” “Did you see the sky split open with millions of angels...can you believe the sound of their singing…like nothing we have ever heard!” "The light so bright I had to cover my eyes." “Do you think anyone else saw it….it was as though they were talking just to us…just to us…JUST TO US!!”
These shepherds, these misfits, these dirty, smelly rugged desert men were the first to see, to hear, to believe, to run, to worship, to quickly go tell others the great news…and to go back with renewed strength and spirit to praise and worship their new Savior.
Their lives would never be the same…for it was a night not like any other night. This holy night changed them forever.
28 years ago, I was a misfit, my thoughts and deeds dirty and smelly…my life made rugged with worldly influences. Stubborn and bleating through daily living. My spirit weary and tired of trying to plow my own pastures of tainted goodness and finding my water contaminated by my selfish tears and spittle of words flung out of my mouth without a thought. Living in a dry barren desert of my own doing, not realizing I was dying in a spiritual drought.
Then someone ran to me and told me the same words the shepherds heard that night so long ago….what I heard was “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” …all the people….all the people…my friend said “Crystal, for you…just for you…JUST FOR YOU!”
That was a night like no other night for me….along side my dear husband we fell to our knees and prayed…because we saw, we heard, and we believed…then we ran, we worshiped and went quickly to tell others.
Christmas reminds me again and again of how God sent His Son to save a misfit like me…On that night not like any other night Christ stepped down from heaven into a stable to touch my soul, all souls with the cry of a hungry baby.
Merry Christmas
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