As we approach the season of the year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we cannot overlook the shepherds on the hillside of Bethlehem who were the first to hear about the birth of Jesus after it occurred.  Shepherds from the hillsides of Bethlehem were responsible for raising the lambs used in the Temple at Jerusalem by people sacrificing them in order for their sins to be forgiven.  Jewish historian Josephus reports that during Passover in the days of the New Testament up to 260,000 lambs would be sacrificed, and they had to meet the strict regulations of the Jewish faith.  They could not be more than one year old, with no spot or blemish and raised within five miles of Jerusalem, which was true of Bethlehem. So, the special shepherds of Bethlehem who raised special lambs were the first to hear of the special birth of the Savior of the world, called by John the Baptist the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”.

        Despite the fact that the shepherds of Bethlehem had an important job, they were not considered to be part of polite society because they did not have the opportunity to follow the rules for cleansing required of those worshipping in the Temple.  They were considered to be outsiders by most people of their day, but God chose to send angels to announce the birth of the Son of God to them, and also to invite them to go to Bethlehem to be the first to visit Him.  They were basically from the same class of society as Mary and Joseph, but God likewise chose them to raise His Son on the earth.

What all this means is that the Almighty God of the Universe sent His Son to every class of people in society, both so-called insiders as well as outsiders.

        The inclusion of the shepherds in the story of Christmas is particularly significant because God refers to Himself in the Scriptures as the Shepherd of Israel.  We all know the words of the famous Twenty-third Psalm that begins with “The Lord is my Shepherd”.  The Scriptures also refer to the leaders of God’s people as shepherds, and Ezekiel the prophet particularly warned against being bad shepherds who took advantage of those under their care, exploiting them rather than leading them, and failing to protect them.  As God’s Son, Jesus referred to Himself as the “Good Shepherd” who planned to give Himself for the sheep, providing for their spiritual salvation.  As the Good Shepherd, Jesus said he was also the “door of the sheepfold”, by which he meant the one and only doorway into heaven.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.