Shepherds … Why Shepherds? – Why not Ceaser in his palace off in Rome to declare the Good News? Why not the local political, economic, or social elite? Why not the priests at the temple? Or at least the rabbis at the local synagogue? – but it is none of them that first hear the news of Christ's birth – it is some shepherds, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
Shepherds were not what would be considered a high-class job – While sheep were common in the Middle East, it was not friendly to a good sleep schedule as someone had to have the night watch. Never something fun, it was not the oldest son who was the shepherd, but instead, it was typically the youngest boy – Just as David, the youngest son, was the shepherd, watching the sheep for his father one thousand years before.
But why Shepherds? – In part, it was because they were awake, there, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night – And in part, it is the lowliness of the shepherds – for Christ came for the humble. But there is something more significant than just the fact that it is a humble job done by those awake at night, for the question is, who is born?
There in the manger is an infant who is the lamb God, him who takes away the sins of the world – the lamb whom we receive each time we receive communion – Christ, the second person of the trinity, becomes man for us! – and why Shepherds? – who else would watch over the lamb of God, seen on the night watch – the lamb born for our salvation. The shepherds may be lowly and humble – it might not be a prestigious job – but it is them to whom the angels proclaim – “good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.” – shepherds hearing the birth of the lamb.
And so tonight, here in the middle of the night, along with the shepherds – we look to receive Christ – the lamb of God – born for the salvation of the world – but at first, that first morning – a humble baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger in Bethlehem –knowing just who he is! – a real reason to proclaim with the angels – “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”