We might have expected that such a wonderful event as the birth of God’s Son would have been announced by angels—and it was. We might also have expected that wise and discerning men from other lands than Israel would have searched for the One born to be King of the Jews—and they did. What we might not have expected is that such news as this— “glad tidings of great joy”— would have been announced not to the highest of political or ecclesiastical authority, but to humble shepherds. If this good news was truly intended for “all the people,” why did God send His angels first to shepherds in the fields nearby to Bethlehem?
The first obvious thing is this—the One born on that holy night would be a shepherd. The prophet Micah said so: “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.” (Micah 5:4) Furthermore, Jesus Himself said He would be a Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd. I lay down my life for the sheep . . .” (John 10:1415) Shepherds would know exactly what that meant. A true shepherd cared for the sheep, even if it meant facing a lion or bear to rescue a lamb—as the once shepherdking David confessed that he had done.
But there is a second reason why the shepherds would be the most appropriate people to first receive this good news—because the One born that night in Bethlehem would be a lamb. That is how John the Baptist introduced Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Not everyone who heard John’s words that day would have understood it, but the shepherds certainly would have. Because Bethlehem is very close to Jerusalem, many scholars have suggested that these shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem would have been shepherding temple flocks. It is likely that these sheep were destined to be offered as sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem.
And one other reason: because for the shepherds, the manger would be a wonderfully appropriate sign. The manger has made its way into our Christmas traditions so effectively that, like the cross, it has become a symbol of our faith. One of our favorite things to display at Christmas time is a manger scene. The Wise Men had their star, but for the shepherds nothing would have been more appropriate than a manger. The angel told them, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12 NIV).
Perhaps the more important question for us today is not “Why the shepherds?” but “Why me?” Why would God in His great love and mercy send His Son into the world and to the cross for me? God’s great gift of Christmas included you and me.