Shepherds

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The Shepherds

The significance of the shepherds who kept sheep in the fields of Bethlehem is that they were not ordinary shepherds.

According to ancient Jewish sources, these shepherds were hired by the temple officials in Jerusalem to keep the sheep that were destined for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem.

Thus the announcement to these shepherds and the birth they announce becomes the first of the New Testament signs that Jesus is the Son of God.

The Sign

The sign to the shepherds has three major components.

The first is their own identity as special shepherds.

Second, they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Both Jewish and Arab guides have told about a custom that a woman would never leave home without having a strip of linen cloth wrapped around her waist in case she died on the journey.

They wanted to be buried in their own linens.

Heavy with child, Mary would thus have a “ready made” linen swath suitable for a newborn baby who would one day by His own death become the Savior of the world.

Thirdly, they would find the baby lying in a manger.

Mangers were hewn out of rock or the side of the natural limestone caves that speckle the hillsides of the shepherd fields near Bethlehem.

At night, baby animals were lifted up and placed safely above the trampling hooves of the larger animals.

The Mishnah identified a sight called Migdal Eder, the Tower of the Flocks as a site on the road on the way into Bethlehem where the shepherds birthed and cared for lambs as they were charged with their sacred duty.

If this is the scenario, we may well have a greater revelation of the Person and future work of the Son of God than we have known.

Conclusion

Revelation always demands a response.

The response that we see from the shepherds adds to the significance of the incarnation.

First, they gave witness to what they had seen and what had been told them about the Christ Child (Luke 2:17).

Second, there was great wonder generated because of the testimony of the shepherds (Luke 2:18).

Third, the shepherds went back to their places in an attitude of worship “glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20 HCSB).