the shepherds visit jesus in the manger

Why Jesus Was Born in a Manger: The Hidden Significance

Discover the astonishing reason why Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born in a humble manger. Unveiling the divine purpose behind his unconventional birth.

Table of Contents

Background on the birth of jesus.

The birth story of Jesus, as told in the Bible, has been subject to historical inaccuracies and discrepancies. Luke and Matthew's accounts present challenges such as the census, the location of Nazareth in relation to Bethlehem, and the detour through Egypt to get Jesus to Nazareth.

The census mentioned in Luke's account presents a challenge, as historical records do not align with such a widespread census at the time of Jesus' birth. Additionally, the distance between Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph resided, and Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, poses a logistical challenge. The detour through Egypt, as mentioned in Matthew, is also historically questioned.

Furthermore, the logical inconsistencies in the story and the historical context of the time are worth considering. These include discrepancies in the genealogies mentioned in Matthew and Luke, and the absence of historical records supporting the account of Herod's massacre of the innocents.

In summary, analyzing the birth of Jesus from a historical perspective raises questions about the accuracy of the accounts in the Bible, including the challenges posed by the census, the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem, and the detour through Egypt. Additionally, logical inconsistencies and historical context further add to the debate.

• "The Birth of Jesus Christ: Hype or History?" by Andreas J. Köstenberger
• "The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown" by Andreas J. Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles L. Quarles

The Birth Narrative in Luke 2:7

The birth narrative in Luke 2:7 is a pivotal account in the Christian faith, detailing the humble circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. This passage is rich in symbolism and theological significance, exploring themes of humility, divine intervention, and the fulfillment of prophetic promises. It provides a powerful insight into the character of Jesus and the significance of his earthly arrival. The narrative has sparked a wealth of theological reflections and interpretations throughout history, offering both spiritual insight and practical application for believers. Let's delve into the significance and implications of this profound account, exploring its historical context, theological implications, and overarching significance for the Christian faith.

The Birth Narrative in Luke 2:7 - Description of Jesus being laid in a manger

Jesus being laid in a manger in the birth narrative of Luke 2:7 holds significant symbolism. The manger, typically used to feed animals, signifies the humility and simplicity of Jesus's birth. It highlights the contrast between the lowly circumstances of his birth and the grandeur of his divine identity.

Culturally, mangers were commonly found in stable areas, reflecting the historical context of agricultural practices in ancient Bethlehem. This detail emphasizes the humble and accessible nature of Jesus, as he was born in a place readily familiar to the common people of that time.

In the overall message of the gospel narrative, Jesus being laid in a manger illustrates how he identifies with the marginalized and the ordinary. It serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus' mission to bring salvation to all people, regardless of their social status or background.

Key Takeaways:

• The manger symbolizes the humility and simplicity of Jesus's birth.
• It reflects the historical context of agricultural practices in ancient Bethlehem.
• Jesus being laid in a manger emphasizes his identification with the marginalized and the ordinary.

The Birth Narrative in Luke 2:7 - Significance of the feeding trough for animals

The use of a feeding trough, or manger, in the birth narrative of Luke 2:7 holds great significance. In the cultural and historical context of the time, sleeping places for babies often consisted of a simple manger. This detail adds depth to the understanding of Jesus' humble birth by emphasizing the lowly and modest circumstances surrounding his arrival.

The feeding trough for animals serves as a powerful symbol of humility and poverty, as it was not a typical or ideal place for a baby to be placed. It highlights the contrast between the traditional expectation of a royal birth and the unexpected, humble nature of Jesus' arrival.

This detail also emphasizes the importance of Jesus' identification with the marginalized and underprivileged, as he came into the world in a setting that was typically associated with animals and laborers.

In summary, the feeding trough's significance in the birth narrative underscores the profound humility and simplicity of Jesus' birth, and reinforces the theme of his identification with the poor and marginalized.

• The manger symbolizes humility and poverty in Jesus' birth narrative
• It underscores the contrast between traditional expectations and the humble nature of his arrival
• It emphasizes Jesus' identification with the marginalized and underprivileged.

birth of Jesus: Humble Birth and Symbolism

The traditional telling of Jesus' birth includes several historical inaccuracies. Firstly, the census that required Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem is not supported by historical records. Additionally, Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph were said to be from, is located in Galilee, while Bethlehem is in Judea, making it unlikely for them to be traveling there for a census. These inaccuracies suggest that the traditional nativity story may not be entirely accurate.

The significance of the manger in nativity scenes lies in its symbolism of Jesus' humble birth. In Christian observances, the manger represents the humility and simplicity of Jesus' arrival, as he was born in a stable and laid in a feeding trough. This symbolism reflects the key message of Christianity, emphasizing the importance of humility, compassion, and the idea that greatness can arise from modest beginnings.

In summary:

• The traditional telling of Jesus' birth contains historical inaccuracies.
• The significance of the manger lies in its symbolism of Jesus' humble birth.
• The manger represents the key messages of Christianity, emphasizing humility and compassion.

birth of Jesus: Importance of humility in Christian teachings

The importance of humility in Christian teachings is exemplified through the birth and life of Jesus. His humble birth in a manger, rather than in a palace, demonstrated that greatness can come from humble beginnings. Throughout His life, Jesus modeled servanthood by washing the feet of His disciples and prioritizing the needs of others above His own.

Jesus' teachings emphasized humility as a foundational aspect of faith, instructing His followers to serve one another and to be humble in heart. He taught that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted in the kingdom of God.

In Christian faith, humility is considered a key virtue, as it reflects a posture of submission to God and a willingness to serve others. Embracing humility allows individuals to recognize their reliance on God and fosters a spirit of kindness, compassion, and selflessness.

• Jesus' birth and life demonstrated humility and servanthood.
• His teachings emphasized humility as a foundational aspect of faith.
• Humility is a key virtue in the Christian faith, impacting the believer's relationship with God and others.
• The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV)
• "The Humility of Christ" by Oswald Sanders (https://www.challies.com/articles/the-humility-of-christ/)

birth of Jesus: Representation of Jesus as the savior of all people

The birth of Jesus is recognized as the pivotal moment in which God's plan for the redemption of humanity was set into motion. Jesus is referred to as the savior of all people in the Bible, as His sacrificial death and resurrection provided the means for salvation and reconciliation with God.

The purpose of Jesus' birth was to redeem mankind from the bondage of sin and restore the broken relationship between humanity and God. This act of redemption was made possible through Jesus' perfect life, atoning death on the cross, and victorious resurrection.

In the Bible, Jesus is also likened to the second Adam, signifying His role in bringing reconciliation and hope of eternal life to all people. Just as Adam's disobedience led to the fall of humanity, Jesus' obedience and sacrifice reversed the effects of sin, offering the hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Overall, the birth of Jesus represents the fulfillment of God's promise to provide a savior for all people, offering redemption, reconciliation, and the hope of eternal life.

Key takeaways:

• Jesus' birth marks the beginning of God's plan for the redemption of humanity.
• His sacrificial death and resurrection provided the means for salvation and reconciliation.
• Jesus is compared to the second Adam, bringing hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Prophecies about a descendant of David being the Messiah

The prophecies about a descendant of David being the Messiah are deeply connected to the birth of Jesus and the fulfillment of God's promise. In the Old Testament, God promised David that one of his descendants would establish a kingdom that would last forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). This promised descendant is the Messiah, who would bring salvation and fulfill God's plan for humanity.

Additionally, Jesus being the fulfillment of the promised Seed of Abraham is significant because it ties into His lineage from the house of David. The promise to Abraham was that through his seed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). Jesus, as a descendant of Abraham, fulfills this promise by bringing salvation to all people. His lineage from the house of David further confirms his identity as the Messiah, as it fulfills the specific prophecy that the Messiah would come from the line of David (Isaiah 11:1).

The Messianic prophecies, such as the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) and the birthplace in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. His fulfilling of these prophecies establishes His identity as the long-awaited Messiah and fulfills God's promise to bring salvation through the lineage of David and as the promised Seed of Abraham.

Jesus' lineage traced back to King David

Jesus' lineage traced back to King David holds significant importance in understanding Jesus' role in fulfilling the promised spiritual fulfillment of the Seed of Israel. As a literal, physical descendant of Abraham and specifically King David, Jesus embodies the fulfillment of the promises made to the patriarchs of Israel. This lineage is crucial because it establishes Jesus as the rightful heir to David's throne, fulfilling the prophetic promise of an everlasting kingdom.

Jesus' physical birth is intricately linked to the spiritual fulfillment of the promised Seed of Israel. His birth paved the way for his followers to receive the Holy Spirit, as promised by God. Through his lineage and physical birth, Jesus became the bridge between the Old Testament promises and the New Testament fulfillment, demonstrating the continuity of God's redemptive plan.

In the grand scheme of God's plan of redemption for mankind, Jesus' birth plays an essential role. It signifies the culmination of centuries of anticipation and serves as the cornerstone of God's redemptive plan. Through Jesus, God's promise of salvation and restoration is brought to fruition for all who believe in him.

• Jesus' lineage to King David confirms his rightful place as the fulfillment of promises to the patriarchs.
• His physical birth is intimately connected to the spiritual fulfillment of the promises made to Israel.
• Jesus' birth is central to God's grand plan of redemption for mankind.

Why did Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem?

Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem because of the political decree issued by Emperor Caesar Augustus, requiring all citizens to return to their hometowns for the census. This decree was aimed at assessing and taxing the population. Bethlehem was significant for Joseph as it was the birthplace of his ancestor King David, fulfilling the Messianic prophecy that the Messiah would be born in David's city.

The journey from Galilee to Bethlehem would have been arduous, especially for Mary, who was pregnant at the time. Despite the difficulties, the couple's obedience to the decree ultimately fulfilled the prophecy. This aligns with the role of God's sovereign hand in orchestrating events, using human circumstances to fulfill His divine purpose.

In summary, Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem was a result of Caesar Augustus' census decree, fulfilling the Messianic prophecy of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem, and ultimately demonstrating the sovereignty of God in human events.

What was the significance of Jesus being born in a manger?

Jesus being born in a manger holds great significance within the historical context of Jewish Bethlehem. Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David, and it held prophetic implications as the birthplace of the Messiah. However, over time, the Jewish state was conquered, and non-Davidic rulers, such as the Maccabees, rose to power, overshadowing the lineage of King David.

Jesus' birth in a manger aligns with the humble circumstances of the Davidic line. It serves as a powerful statement that the promised Messiah is not born into a position of earthly power but rather in humility, echoing the prophecies of the suffering servant in the book of Isaiah.

This humble birth not only emphasizes the fulfillment of the prophetic implications of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem but also serves as a reminder of the nature of His kingdom – one that is not of this world. In essence, Jesus being born in a manger highlights the unexpected and unconventional nature of God's plan for redemption, in line with the humble origins of the Davidic line.

• Jesus' birth in a manger aligns with the humble circumstances of the Davidic line
• It emphasizes the fulfillment of the prophetic implications of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem
• It highlights the unexpected and unconventional nature of God's plan for redemption

What was the significance and importance of the manger?

The manger holds significant importance in the birth of Jesus as it symbolizes humility and simplicity, reflecting the core values of Christmas. It serves as a powerful reminder that the King of Kings chose to enter the world in humble circumstances, devoid of extravagance or wealth. This emphasizes the idea of Christ's message of love, compassion, and service to others.

Beyond being a mere backdrop, the manger carries deep theological and historical meaning. It highlights the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and the divine plan for salvation, anchoring the story of Jesus' birth in a tangible and relatable setting. The manger represents God's intentional choice to enter the world in a vulnerable state, underscoring the profound nature of the Incarnation.

Symbolically, the manger is intricately woven into the sacred narrative of the Savior's birth, underscoring the significance of the event. It serves as a visual and tangible representation of God's immense love for humanity, expressed through the birth of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.

• The manger signifies humility, simplicity, and the core values of Christmas
• It holds deep theological and historical significance in the birth of Jesus
• The manger symbolizes the divine narrative of the Savior's birth, emphasizing God's love for humanity.

Where in the bible does it say where Jesus was born?

In the Bible, Jesus's birthplace is mentioned in Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:2-6. Micah 5:2 prophesies that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, saying, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

The significance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem lies in the fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy. This demonstrates God's faithfulness to His promises and His sovereignty over history. By being born in Bethlehem, Jesus fulfills the Messianic prophecy, showing that He is the promised Savior and the fulfillment of God's plan for redemption. It also connects Jesus to the lineage of King David, as Bethlehem was David's birthplace, further affirming His Messianic identity.

• The Bible mentions Jesus's birthplace in Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:2-6.
• Jesus being born in Bethlehem fulfills Old Testament prophecy, demonstrating God's faithfulness and sovereignty, and affirming His Messianic identity.

Frequently asked questions

Was jesus actually born in a manger or was he just laid there after birth.

• Jesus was not just laid in a manger, but He was born in one.
• The manger holds deep symbolism and meaning, representing Jesus' accessibility to all.
• It reminds us of Jesus' humble beginnings and His purpose to provide spiritual sustenance.
• The historical accuracy of the nativity scene is debated, but the manger remains a significant symbol in Christianity.
• The manger serves as a reminder of Jesus' mission to bring spiritual food and shelter to all.

Did Joseph and Mary choose to have Jesus born in a manger?

• Joseph and Mary did not choose for Jesus to be born in a manger; it was due to their circumstances. 
• This is confirmed in the book of Luke in the Bible. 
• Jesus being born in a manger symbolizes his accessibility to everyone. 
• It serves as a reminder that Jesus came to provide spiritual nourishment and shelter.
• The manger is an important part of the Christmas story that has deep and meaningful significance.

How did the shepherds know to find Jesus in a manger?

• An angelic announcement guided the shepherds to the manger where Jesus lay.
• The shepherds followed their faith and embarked on a journey of hope in search of the Savior.
• Despite the unlikely setting, they found the humble baby in a manger.
• This reminds us that God often reveals Himself in unexpected ways.
• True seekers will always find Him, no matter where they look.

What other options were available for Joseph and Mary to give birth to Jesus?

• Joseph and Mary had other available options for the birth of Jesus, but God chose the humble setting of a manger to emphasize Jesus' accessibility and humility.
• By being born in a manger, Jesus showed that he came for everyone, regardless of their social status or wealth.
• The manger is a powerful reminder of God's love and grace for all people.
• This unconventional birthplace was chosen to demonstrate that material wealth and power don't matter in God's eyes.
• Jesus' birth in a manger is a symbol of hope and acceptance for all who seek God's grace.

Are there any historical records or evidence supporting the claim that Jesus was born in a manger?

• Historical records and archaeological evidence regarding Jesus' birth in a manger are limited.
• The Bible provides detailed accounts of Jesus' birth, but there is no external evidence to confirm the exact location.
• Jesus being born in a manger symbolizes his accessibility to all, his spiritual sustenance, and the humble circumstances of his arrival. 
• It reminds us of the profound message of love and salvation that Jesus brought to the world.
• Reflecting on Jesus' birth in a manger can provide spiritual nourishment and a deeper understanding of the Christian faith.

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Who Were The Shepherds At Jesus’ Birth?

The story of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus in Bethlehem is one of the most beloved parts of the Christmas narrative. But who exactly were these humble shepherds who received the glorious news of the Savior’s birth?

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: The Bible does not provide names or detailed background information on the shepherds who saw the angel and visited Jesus . They were simply local shepherds keeping watch over their flocks near Bethlehem.

In this in-depth article, we will explore everything the Bible does tell us about these shepherds, including clues about their occupation, character, and possible significance. We’ll also survey other historical sources and scholarly research to try to shed more light on who these modest men were who had the awe-inspiring privilege of being the very first to worship the newborn Christ.

The Biblical Account of the Shepherds at Jesus’ Birth

The shepherds in the fields near bethlehem.

The shepherds who saw the angelic announcement of Jesus’ birth and visited the newborn Savior were humble men working in the fields near Bethlehem. They were likely caring for the temple flocks that supplied sacrificial lambs for worship in the temple in Jerusalem, just five miles away (Luke 2:8).

These hardworking men received an unbelievable divine revelation and hurried to witness the long-awaited Messiah, the Lord Christ.

The Angel’s Announcement to the Shepherds

The shepherds received a wondrous, startling visitation from an angel of the Lord with the news that the Christ had been born. Accompanying the angel was “the glory of the Lord” shining down from heaven (Luke 2:9).

Awestruck, the shepherds listened as the angel proclaimed he brought “good news that will cause great joy for all the people” that on this night in Bethlehem, the long-awaited Savior and Messiah had been born (Luke 2:10-12).

Then “a great company” of other praising angels appeared, singing praises to God for this glorious event. When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds swiftly went to find the Christ child.

The Shepherds Visit Baby Jesus in the Manger

The angel had given the shepherds miraculous signs to recognize the Savior after He told them of the joyous news : “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). Leaving their flocks in the field, they hurried the short distance to Bethlehem, where they found Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus lying in the manger, just as the angel foretold.

These humble shepherds then believed this remarkable revelation and joyfully shared their experience with the new parents, telling Mary and Joseph what the angel proclaimed about this holy infant Boy. The shepherds’ visit powerfully verifies Jesus as the long-promised Messiah (Luke 2:16-20).

What the Bible Reveals About the Identity and Lives of the Shepherds

They were unnamed local shepherds.

The Bible does not provide the specific names of the shepherds who witnessed the angels announcing Jesus’ birth. They are simply referred to as “shepherds living out in the fields nearby” (Luke 2:8). As residents near Bethlehem tending sheep, they were likely minor shepherds in the area.

They Were Living Near Bethlehem

According to Scripture, the shepherds were living out in fields near Bethlehem when the angels appeared to them: “there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:8).

So geographically, these shepherds resided close to the town where Jesus was born.

They Were Going About Their Normal Work

The Bible conveys that the shepherds were doing their regular job of caring for sheep when the angel of the Lord visited them. They were “keeping watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:8), being diligent caretakers before encountering the life-changing news.

They Were From a Lower Social Class

As keepers and herders of sheep in Biblical times, shepherds like those in the nativity story often came from a lower social class. However, despite their probable humble backgrounds, these unnamed men played the honored role of being the first visitors to worship the newborn Jesus.

They Were Considered Righteous and Faithful

While shepherds as a group were lowly in status, the Bible presents these particular men positively. After hearing from the angel, they made haste to find Jesus in the manger, faithful in believing the messenger’s news that the savior was born.

Their immediate action to visit baby Jesus demonstrates their righteousness and heart for the truth .

The Significance of God Choosing to Reveal Jesus’ Birth to Shepherds

Shepherds symbolized humility and lowliness.

In Jesus’ time, shepherds were considered humble and lowly members of society. They lived outdoors tending to flocks and did not enjoy high social status or power. God revealing the birth of Jesus to shepherds first showed that the messiah was coming for humble folk.

As Jesus later said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). The shepherds remind us that Christ’s teaching elevates the humble.

Shepherds Represented the Scripture Promise of a Shepherd-King

Shepherds were also significant because the Old Testament promised a Shepherd-King would come from the line of David. Ezekiel 34 speaks of God becoming the Shepherd who seeks the lost, binds up the injured, and strengthens the weak.

Choosing shepherds to receive the news of Jesus’ birth reinforced he was the fulfillment of this promised Savior-Shepherd. As Jesus later declared, “I am the good shepherd” who lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

Shepherds Mirrored Attributes Jesus Would Later Embody

Lastly, shepherds themselves modeled qualities Jesus exemplified in his ministry. Shepherds lovingly tended their flocks, knew their sheep individually, guided them to food and water, and protected them from harm.

Jesus embodied these traits as the Good Shepherd who knew His followers intimately, provided abundant spiritual food and living water, and laid down his life sacrificially for the sheep. The shepherds were a picture of the servant leadership and compassion Jesus would model.

The Possible Deeper Meaning Behind ‘Shepherds’ in This Narrative

A symbolic connection to king david’s life.

There may be a symbolic meaning behind the shepherds’ inclusion in the nativity story. As the prophets foretold, Jesus was born in Bethlehem , the city of David. David himself was a shepherd boy before becoming king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:11).

Featuring shepherds at Christ’s birth could be a purposeful parallel, emphasizing Jesus’ lineage from David and foreshadowing Jesus’ future reign as king.

Foreshadowing Jesus as the Good Shepherd

The shepherds’ presence may also symbolically point ahead to Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Shepherds care for sheep, protecting them from harm. In the same way, Jesus cares deeply for His people, rescuing the lost and binding up the injured (Ezekiel 34:16).

The shepherds hurrying to find the newborn Christ child mirrors Christ’s later ministry to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Representing Jesus Gathering Outcasts Into His Flock

Socially, shepherds occupied one of the lowest rungs in first century Jewish society. Their testimony was even inadmissible in court. By making such overlooked people the first witnesses to the Messiah, the narrative could symbolize Jesus’ ministry to gather in societal outcasts despised as “sinners” by the religious elite (Luke 15:1-2).

The Christ child being made known first to humble shepherds hints at His later teachings that “the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16).

Extra-Biblical Theories About the Identity of the Shepherds at Jesus’ Birth

Legends of the shepherds being from the migdal eder watchtower.

Some extra-biblical theories suggest the shepherds who witnessed Jesus’ birth came from the Migdal Eder watchtower near Bethlehem. This tower was used by shepherds to guard the temple flock of lambs destined for sacrifice in Jerusalem (micah 4:8).

According to legend, the Messiah’s birth would be first announced here.

A 3rd century Christian text, the Protevangelium of James , claims the shepherds at Migdal Eder knew the Messiah had been born because they witnessed extraordinary events around the time of Jesus’ birth.

Angels, a bright star over Bethlehem, and even the miraculous opening of the tower gates occurred to alert the shepherds that the Christ child had come.

While these legends connect the shepherds to an important temple site, the Bible does not specify they were from Migdal Eder or had these experiences. The embellished stories may have developed later to emphasize the shepherds’ role as the first to learn of Jesus’ birth.

Embellished Stories About the Shepherds Witnessing Miracles

In addition to the Protevangelium legend, other extra-biblical stories describe the shepherds seeing miracles and supernatural events that aren’t mentioned in the Bible. In the Revelation of Pseudo-Matthew , the shepherds witness the Magi’s star, see angels filling the sky, and observe a bright light over the manger.

Some texts even claim one shepherd put his hand in the manger to test if the child was real, only to have his hand wither. When the shepherd begged forgiveness, Jesus healed his hand. These embellished stories developed long after the gospels were written.

While compelling, these extra details about shining stars,withered hands, and countless angels have no biblical basis. They likely grew as the Christmas story was retold to emphasize Jesus’ divinity and miraculous birth.

The Bible simply describes an angel telling the shepherds about Jesus, prompting them to visit the child.

The humble shepherds who heard the heavenly chorus proclaiming Jesus’ birth and sought out the newborn King in the manger remain beloved, if mysterious, figures. While the Bible gives only glimpses into their occupation, character, and possible symbolism, one thing is absolutely clear: however simple and obscure their stations in life, God bestowed on them the priceless honor of being the very first witnesses to His Son the Savior’s long-awaited coming into the world.

As we marvel at the holy night when lowly shepherds met their Lord incarnate in Bethlehem, perhaps God is calling each of us to heed the angel’s message as well: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy…”

Amanda Williams is a dedicated Christian writer and blogger who is passionate about sharing Biblical truth and encouraging believers in their faith walks. After working as a youth pastor and Bible teacher for several years, she launched her blog in 2022 to minister to Christians online seeking to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. When she's not creating content or connecting with readers, Amanda enjoys studying theology, being out in nature, baking, and spending time with family. Her goal is to provide practical wisdom and hope from a genuine Christian perspective. Amanda currently resides in Colorado with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

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Why Shepherds and Wise Men?

Have you ever wondered why it was that shepherds and wise men came to see Jesus following his birth? Why didn't tax collectors, doctors, or farmers meet Jesus at the manger? The shepherd and wise men narratives are found respectively in Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 2:1-12. Some have speculated the shepherds and wise men represent the spectrum of humanity: the shepherds symbolizing the poor and uneducated of society, while the wise men stand for the rich and well-read; this may be true, but could they also hold prophetic meaning?  Nothing in Scripture is written as an aside; everything has significance. Therefore, might it be that the shepherd narrative points to the mission of the newborn babe?  The prophet Ezekiel spoke of a day when the Sovereign Lord would remove the shepherds of Israel—the leadership—and hold them accountable for not caring for his people. He would replace the wicked shepherds, who cared only for themselves, and become the Shepherd to his people: "For thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I will search for my sheep and will seek them out. . . . I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep . . .'" (Ezekiel 34). 

The nativity story in Luke tells us the shepherds were in the fields nearby watching over their sheep. Undoubtedly, some of those sheep would later be sacrificed in the temple, which means those shepherds were charged with tending perfect and without blemish sheep that would be sacrificed for the atonement of sins. Is this not an echo of Jesus' mission? He is the Good Shepherd who "lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). He is the perfect "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).  Could it also be that the wise men narrative points to the nature of the baby? Matthew tells us of wise men who calculated the exact timing of when the Savior would be born; they knew the answer would come in the night sky. They were learned men who knew the Scriptures. They were looking for hidden things. They were seeking to understand the mystery of this great Light spoken of in Isaiah: "The Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. . . ." (Isaiah 60:1-3). Is this not also an echo of the very nature of the baby in the manger? He is the "'True Light' . . . the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge . . . For in Christ there is all of God in a human body" (John 1:9; Colossians 2:3-9).  Sometime later, possibly even two years later, the wise men brought special gifts to Jesus of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mt. 2:11). But why are these gifts important and why would Matthew mention them? Let us think of how they were used to determine if they hold prophetic significance: Gold was associated with kingship (1 Kings 10). The High Priest's vestment was made with gold (Ex. 28), as well as furnishings in the temple (1 Kings 6:20-22). Frankincense was an ingredient in the sacred anointing oil and used in sacrificial offering and as a fumigant during animal sacrifices (Ex. 30:34; Lev. 2:1; Ex. 7). Myrrh was also used as an anointing oil to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark, the table and all its instruments, and the washbasin and its pedestal. A mix of Myrrh was used to anoint Aaron and his sons—the Priests; it was never to be used on anyone other than the Priests (Ex. 30:22-33).  Do these three gifts not also point us to the nature and mission of the baby in the manger? Yes! This baby—this Jesus—became our High Priest , our Sacrifice , and our King; he is the one who came to establish an everlasting kingdom (He. 9; Jn. 19:39-40; Lu. 1:32-33; Rev. 11:15).  Jesus, our Messiah, is coming again; he is coming in our lifetime! He is either coming for us one-by-one in our deaths or in the clouds for all to see. As we meet at the manger this Advent season to celebrate his first coming, let us remember the nature and mission of this baby and be inspired anew to go tell the rich and poor—and everyone in between—God's good news message of salvation! 

Copyright 2018 Sarah A. Keith

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What Is the Meaning and Significance of the Manger?

We get one detail in the Christmas story about Jesus' birth: he was placed in a manger. What is significant about this manger, so important that we remember it to this day?

The Gospel of Luke gives us a play-by-play of the moments leading up to our Savior’s birth. Although that divine narrative explains Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the circumstances surrounding the blessed event, Scripture gives us only one detail about where our Savior spent His first moments on earth. He was laid in a manger. 

What Is a Manger?

If Luke had been a typical author, he might have added nuance to Jesus’s birth story to make the setting come alive for the reader. Or he may have embellished the plot to increase tension so that the reader would want to turn the page. But because we know God inspires all Scripture, we can be sure that the Holy Spirit had a purpose for every detail conveyed. 

When Jesus was born, Luke tells us that  Mary laid him in something called a manger ( Luke 2:7 ). The word used for manger is the Latin word munducare , which means “to eat.” When our Savior left the comfort of Heaven and his earthly mother’s womb, his first resting place on earth doubled as a feeding trough for livestock. Back then, farmers kept their mangers overflowing with fodder so their beasts of burden would never go hungry. 

After Mary tucked our swaddled Savior securely in his trough,  an angel of the Lord appeared to a herd of nearby  shepherds . The angel issued Jesus’s glorious birth announcement to them along with an invitation to a birthday feast .  

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” ( Luke 2:11-12 ).

The shepherds, overjoyed by the news and overwhelmed with the glory of God, didn’t waste any time accepting the invitation. They stampeded to the trough, eager to satisfy the hunger stirred within them. These shepherds were the first of many who would feast on the presence of the long-awaited Messiah, Christ Jesus our Lord—who would soon declare, “I am the bread of life . Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” ( John 6:35 )

Why Did Joseph and Mary Travel to Bethlehem?

The Gospel of Luke tells us that just before our Savior’s birth, Emperor Caesar Augustus issued a decree to every land controlled by the Roman Empire. This decree mandated that all citizens return to their hometowns to register for a census . 

This meant that Mary and Joseph were required to leave Galilee and travel about 75 miles through Judea to the city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Joseph’s descendants.  On foot , their journey would have taken four to six days across the rough terrain.

Various political reasons motivated Augustus to mandate the census (the first of its kind). But Scripture reveals God’s sovereign hand at work behind the scenes, orchestrating human circumstances and events to fulfill Messianic prophecy. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” ( Micah 5:2 ).

Was Jesus Born in a Stable?

The Biblical symbols we use in our Christmas celebrations are centuries old. The beloved nativity scene, a tradition first initiated by Francis of Assisi in 1223, is still revered by Christians as one of the most important symbols of the season. In our attempt to commemorate Jesus’s birth, we typically use every means possible to recreate the scenes of that Holy night in our hearts, churches, and homes—so that we can feel closer to Christ as we rejoice.

The problem is some Christians rely on modern Nativity scenes, Christmas plays, classic hymns, and feature films to fill in the gaps where Scripture is silent, then adopt those renditions as truth. 

It might surprise some Believers to realize that the entire account of Christ’s birth event—that exact moment and place He was born—can only be found in one short verse of Luke’s Gospel:

“And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” ( Luke 2:7 , KJV).

The reason this is an important factor when considering the question of whether Jesus was born in a stable or not is the same reason I quoted the Scripture from the KJV version of the Bible. It all boils down to the three-letter word at the end of the passage—the word “inn.” 

Christian tradition has historically referred to the “inn” in this verse as a commercial boarding house for travelers. Assuming that interpretation is accurate, if there were “no room for them in the inn,” Mary and Joseph would have retreated to the first private place they could find to deliver their baby. A stable seems the most likely locale for that purpose since Scripture reveals that Mary laid Jesus in a feeding trough after He was born. 

The original language of the verse uses the Greek word kataluma  for the word “inn.” This word can be translated to mean a type of boarding house, but more often, the word was used to describe a “guest chamber.” Although many scholars believe boarding houses existed in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’s birth, the Greek word used for a commercial boarding establishment was pandocheion . 

Is Satisfaction Guaranteed for Christians?

If Mary and Joseph were turned away from a guest chamber instead of a boarding house, that would suggest that they had tried to find lodging at a relative’s home, which seems plausible based on the day’s customs. In that case, the most likely scenario would have been that their relatives, already overcrowded with guests arriving for the census, were forced to make room for the young couple in an area usually reserved for family livestock—an indoor shelter adjoined to the home.  

Another theory about Jesus’s birthplace suggests that He was born in a part of Bethlehem called Migdol Eder. Beneath the watchtower located at Migdol Eder, there was an area where shepherds could house and protect their newborn lambs. That spot would later become the burial place of Rachel and the designated spot for temple sacrifices. 

Some scholars believe Jesus came into the world at Migdol Eder because the prophet Micah mentions the place when prophesying about the coming Messiah. “As for you, watchtower of the flock [ Migdol Eder,  original Hebrew], stronghold of Daughter Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem” ( Micah 4:8 ).

The truth is Scripture never reveals the exact location where Mary gave birth. Any answer we come up with is based solely on conjecture. The Biblical Nativity story only provides one detail about Jesus’s first earthly abode: He was laid in a manger. 

What Can We Learn from Jesus’ Manger?

Maybe there’s a reason God chose to omit the details of His birth and the specific location of His birthplace from Scripture. Perhaps knowing our human tendency to sensationalize the sacred and memorialize the mundane, He wanted humanity to focus on the bigger picture. Here are a few things Jesus’s manger reveals about that bigger picture:

The manger was a sign —When the angel appeared to the shepherds in the field to invite them to visit the newborn King, he told them to look for a baby in a manger. The manger wasn’t just a sign for the shepherds; it’s a sign to all of us that Jesus is accessible to everyone who seeks Him. The shepherds would not have had access to a baby born in a royal palace, and as strangers, they probably wouldn’t even have had access to a baby born in the confines of a family home. But a manger was accessible to all—and still is. 

The manger was a symbol —Only a roughhewn, splintery, smelly feeding trough could have adequately illustrated the shocking condescension that the God of the universe displayed through Christ’s birth. 

“God became man and took on flesh. The Creator became a creature; the One who hung the stars lay helpless in a manger. The One who we teach our children is so big, so strong, and so mighty became so tiny, so weak, and so powerless. The King of the angels was made a little lower than the angels. The Creator of time entered time. The One whose everlasting arms are underneath His people lay vulnerable in his mother’s arms.” – “ The Condescending God,” by Paul Levy

The manger facilitated a metaphor —Newborn Jesus, the Bread of Life, lay in a feeding trough in the little town of Bethlehem, which means “the house of bread” in Hebrew. No other food has the power to give us everlasting life ( John 6:51 ). No other nourishment can yield lasting joy ( Jeremiah 15:16 ). Those who feast on this bread will never be hungry again ( John 6:35 ).

Today, Jesus still beckons us to come to the trough, into His presence, and feed on Him. Rebecca Barlow Jordan beautifully describes this continuous invitation like this: 

“My child, I sense your hunger to grow. No one who seeks My presence leaves empty. I will feed you, body, soul, and spirit. Come, sit at My feet daily, and we will share together. I’ve baked an abundance of delicious bread you’ve never even tasted. My manna is not of this world, but once you eat it, you will never be hungry again. I will fill you up with Myself.” – Bread of Life - Daily in Your Presence

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/jchizhe

This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!

What Is Advent: Meaning, History, and Traditions Advent Prayers for Friends, Family, and More What Is an Advent Wreath and How to Use One? The History of Santa Claus: Origin of St. Nicholas Christmas Bible Verses & Scripture Story

What is Christmas? True Meaning and Holiday History Christmas Eve History and Traditions Why Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh? When Was Jesus Born? Why December 25th Where Was Jesus Born?

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The Characters of Christmas: Shepherds

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This sermon is part of “The Characters of Christmas” sermon series. See the whole series here .

Introduction

Christmas time is filled with tradition. One tradition that some families have is to read the Christmas story on Christmas morning before gifts are open. Chances are good the story you chose to read from the Bible is Luke 2:1-20. In these verses God teaches us that a census has been ordered in the land. Residents are to return to the city of their lineage. This brings Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, because they are in the line of David. While they are there, the Son of God is born, just as prophesied in Scripture. Out in the field’s shepherds are watching their flocks. The shepherds, these characters of Christmas, provide a different perspective on the Christmas story, reminding us that the gospel reaches all people.

A Message of Hope Is Heard

“I never thought this could happen in my town,” said the residents of this tiny southern town when they learned the news of the horrific crime. Paul Rickenbacker had walked into the local mall and fatally wounded many of the townspeople. He was soon captured and taken into custody. His crime and arrest made national news and was the talk of the country, because it was the largest tragedy in history at a public venue. When arrested, Paul confessed to the crime and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole. The town was ecstatic when they heard of Paul’s life sentence. They hated this man.

In Luke’s gospel we learn that on the same day Jesus is born in Bethlehem, there are shepherds in the fields around Bethlehem who are doing their job, watching over their flocks. Shepherds were not a very popular group of people. They were considered social misfits, thieves, and religious outcasts. They were considered unclean and were not able to participate in temple worship. They spent their entire lives taking care of sheep. Their job was dangerous at times, but was mostly boring and tedious. While we do not know how many shepherds there were, the plural usage of the term helps us conclude there were multiple shepherds in the field. This unpopular group of people is the first group to whom God announces the birth of his Son.

Luke tell us that it was night when the shepherds were watching their flocks in the fields. The setting is significant. On a clear night, away from the city’s lights, we can gaze into the night sky and see a multitude of stars. Bethlehem was not a big city and we can imagine the darkness that consumed the shepherds on this special night. This setting was not unusual for shepherds, but what is about to happen is something we still talk about to this day.

God dispatches an angel to this region of the world with a special announcement and invitation. In verse 10 the message comes from a singular unnamed angel and concludes with a host of angels giving praise to God for the peace he has provided to the earth through his Son.

Can you remember where you were and who God sent your way to announce Jesus and invite you to follow him? Maybe you were a young child or a teenager or a young adult when you heard the life changing message of the gospel. But consider this, God used that person at a precise time in your life to save your soul and to bring you peace.

The night sky lights up with the glory of God and all those sitting in the fields were overcome by the light’s intensity. This sudden appearance in the dark sky brings fear on the shepherds (I think we would have all jumped out of our skin at this appearance in the middle of the night).

The first words from the angel’s mouth are to calm their fears. But reread the Scripture at this moment and listen to the angel’s words. The angel has good news (the gospel) which is great joy and is for all people.

The angel then goes into detail about who Jesus is: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior (rescuer, redeemer, deliverer) who is Christ (Messiah, anointed one) the Lord (Master, ruler).” Packed into that one statement is rich theology. The Savior has been born to rescue us from sin. This Savior is the promised Messiah, the anointed one spoken of in the Old Testament whom the Jewish people anticipated.

This announcement brings a host of angels in the night sky who bring God the praise and glory he rightly deserves because peace is the result of this joyful good news. Just as fast as the angels appeared in the sky, they vanish from sight and the shepherds are plunged into darkness once again.

Back to Paul Rickenbacker who has served ten years of his life sentence. Every Saturday morning during that time, a Bible study has been held at the prison. A local church has adopted the prison and they come to share God’s Word and be an encouragement for the inmates. Paul never attended these services; never thought they were important and often thought of them as a waste of time. But one Saturday, Paul sensed the need to attend.

Paul did not know what to expect but what he heard changed his life. The gentleman sharing the devotion that morning spoke about the good news. Paul learned that a Savior had come to rescue him from the bondage of sin and redeem him from a life in sin. This resonated with Paul because he understood what literal bondage was but had no idea the impact of sin on eternal life. As Paul sat quietly in his metal chair, in the state issued orange jumpsuit, God grabbed a hold of his life and Paul gave his life to Christ. Every week since that moment, Paul has been discipled by the man who gave the devotion that day, and his life has never been the same.

The Message Heard is Proclaimed to Others

Back in the fields outside Bethlehem the shepherds sit around discussing what they just witnessed. The angel had told them who the baby was and how they could find him. The angel said the sign they were to look for that would identify the Savior, was a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, which was normal for any newborn at the time, placed in a manger, which was certainly not normal in that day. A manger was a feeding trough for animals and served as a bed for the Savior to lay his newborn head. This is what the shepherds were to look for in the city of Bethlehem.

Stop for a moment and let this idea impact your thinking. God arranges a census to be taken in the land. This causes Mary and Joseph to travel from Galilee to Bethlehem to be registered. God was working behind the scenes to bring prophetic Scripture to fulfilment.

Now think about the manger scene. The manger is the epitome of humility. As Isaiah 53 teaches, the Messiah did not come in the royalty he deserved. No one would see a halo around his head as he walked through the streets, but his humility would serve as our example to follow today. The beginning of the Messiah’s days on earth started in great humility, as he was placed in a feeding trough for animals. Jesus, however, would later teach that he was the bread of life. With Jesus, there would be no hunger or thirsting. So, maybe being placed in a feeding trough was fitting for the one who is the bread of life.

The shepherds decide very quickly to head into town to find the Savior. Luke tells us they left in haste to find the one, as told by the angel. The angel does not tell the shepherds to go, but how else could they find the Savior? It was the shepherd’s decision to go and to find the Savior.

One can only imagine the faces of those present in the stable when the shepherds show up. Remember, these were not guys people wanted to be around, yet it is this group of unpopular people that first come to see the Savior. As they come into the place where Jesus is, they communicate to all who are listening the message they heard from the angel out in the field, this is the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Packed into that one statement is the good news everyone needs to hear.

The text tells us that those who heard what the shepherds said, stood in amazement and wondered at what they heard, but Mary sat by the manger and pondered what they had said in her heart. She knew who the baby was, and this unpopular group of misfits has arrived to confirm it. They make her ponder this wonderful moment as she looks into the face of her Savior, the Messiah. The shepherds leave the site where Jesus is, and return to the fields. Now, however, they have a spring their step and a new song of praise as they return to their work.

Paul sat in his cell and spent most of his waking hours reading the Scriptures and growing in Christ. Paul’s crime had made national news. The massacre in the mall ten years earlier surpassed anything in prior history. But ten years had passed, and Paul was a new person, inside and out. A major news network decided to revisit the tragedy and run a special on TV. They wanted to interview Paul and learn more about that dreadful day. Paul spent the hour-long interview answering questions. As the interview came to an end, Paul shared with the viewing audience how the Lord saved him and changed his life. He explained that he was a new person because of the gospel, and he called on others to believe. Many people did not buy what he was saying, even some in the Christian community did not believe him. They thought a man who committed such a crime could not come to Christ, but that is the amazing thing about grace. The message that this hated man heard is the message he proclaimed to others—just like the unpopular shepherds heard the message of hope and proclaimed it to others. Like the shepherds, Paul had a new song of praise in his heart.

The story of the shepherds reminds us of and helps us to understand the reach of the gospel to all people. The shepherds heard and were impacted by the gospel—this group of people who were unpopular in society, seen as a criminal, and without a religious bone in their bodies. This is the group that God chose to speak to in the field.

Then the shepherds became the first missionaries of the gospel! The lowly men went quickly and shared what they heard with others.

No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. It is God’s grace that saves a person through faith. The gospel reaches into the lives of all people with a message of hope and salvation. God has entrusted believers with this life saving message of hope. As believers we must understand that the gospel reaches all people, a lesson we can learn from the shepherds at Christmas.

David Karn is the Senior Pastor at Grace Community Church in Goldsboro, NC.

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3. The Shepherds' Sign of the Manger (Luke 2:1-20)

" 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'

15 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.'

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 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 2:1-20)

How cute to see some girl's doll, recruited at the last minute and wrapped tightly in a blanket, lying amidst the straw of an X-ended manger that dwells the remainder of the year in the church attic. Jessica stands in for Mary, while Robert, the tallest boy in Sunday school this year, makes a perfect Joseph -- once they've applied his fake beard.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not at all against nativity scenes. But we've seen so many, year after year, that it's hard for us to read Scripture and see with fresh eyes what it actually says to us. Luke 2:1-7 makes four important points about the birth of Jesus:

• Jesus is born in history.
• Jesus is born in David's birthplace.
• Jesus' birth is attended by hardship.
• Jesus is born in humble circumstances.

1. Jesus Is Born in History (2:1-2)

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)" (2:1-2)

Jesus has an historical context; he's neither a myth nor a legend. He is both historical and verifiable. He is mentioned not only in the New Testament, but by contemporaries and early documents such as Josephus, Pliny, Tacitus, Suetonius, Bar-Serapion, Thallus, Lucian, and the Talmud. 1 Jesus is a person in history.

Jesus' historical setting includes rulers Caesar Augustus, Herod the Great, and Quirinius. "Caesar Augustus," Roman emperor Octavian, reigned 27 BC - 14 AD. Herod the Great, called "King of the Jews," ruled Judea from 40 to 4 BC. Quirinius was a military leader and Roman consul in central Asia Minor, and later Imperial Legate of Syria-Cilicia (AD 6 to 9), where Josephus notes that he conducted a census. 2 The census in our passage isn't recorded elsewhere but makes sense, perhaps under a kind of extraordinary command authority Quirinius possessed during his military maneuvers in Cilicia or during a brief earlier stint as governor in Syria. 3

2. Jesus Is Born in David's Birthplace (2:3-4)

"And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David." (2:3-4)

The second point of our passage is that Jesus was born in the birthplace of David, Israel's greatest King. Nearly 1000 years before Jesus' birth, God had promised to David through the Prophet Samuel, "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16). Micah had also prophesied of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2)

The Jews eagerly expected David's successor and called this hoped-for Messiah the "Son of David." Jesus is the Son of David, this promised King. It is no accident that Joseph was "of the house and lineage of David" (Luke 2:4, KJV) and that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 4

3. Jesus' Birth is Attended by Hardship (2:5-6)

"He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born." (2:5-6)

The most glorious event in history is about to unfold, but for Joseph and Mary it is drudgery and hardship.

• Mary and Joseph live in Nazareth, four days journey north of Bethlehem.
• Mary is pregnant. A journey late in pregnancy is arduous for her. But if she stays in Nazareth she has to face scandal alone. Luke puts it delicately: "... Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child" (2:5).
• Compounding that, it could well have been winter, if second century church tradition is to be taken seriously. 5

An arduous journey in winter, a pregnant teenage mom. Who says that following God's plan is easy? Just because we face hardships and obstacles is no indication that God is absent, that we've missed his will.

4. Jesus Is Born in Humble Circumstances (2:7)

"... And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (2:7)

The manger astounds me. The holy Son of God was born in a stable or cave where animals were kept and his first crib was a common cattle trough. Why? Though Jesus was by very nature God (Philippians 2:6), he didn't grasp at his prerogatives or flaunt his rights. Instead, he "made himself nothing ( kenoō ), taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...." (Philippians 2:7). Kenoō means "make empty." Jesus literally "emptied himself" of all the privileges to which he was heir. He didn't just take a low place, he took the lowest place. His commission was "to preach good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18; quoting Isaiah 61:1), so he was born among the poorest of the poor. His disciples argued about who would be greatest in the Kingdom, but Jesus stopped them short: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). The manger represents serving. 

Shepherds Keeping Watch over Their Flocks (2:8)

But the manger was more than a symbol of humility. God planned it as a sign. Let's read on.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night." (2:8)

Sheep raised on the hillsides around Bethlehem may well have been destined for temple sacrifices in Jerusalem, only six miles to the north. 6 Jeremias describes a shepherd's life:

"The dryness of the ground made it necessary for the flocks of sheep and cattle to move about during the rainless summer and to stay for months at a time in isolated areas, far from the owner's home. Hence, herding sheep was an independent and responsible job; indeed, in view of the threat of wild beasts and robbers, it could even be dangerous. Sometimes the owner himself (Luke 15:6; John 10:12) or his sons did the job. But usually it was done by hired shepherds, who only too often did not justify the confidence reposed in them (John 10:12-13)." 7

Some of Israel's great heroes were shepherds -- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. But in the First Century, it seems, shepherds -- specifically, hireling shepherds -- had a rather unsavory reputation. The Rabbis are quoted as saying, "most of the time they were dishonest and thieving; they led their herds onto other people's land and pilfered the produce of the land." Because they were often months at a time without supervision, they were often accused of stealing some of the increase of the flock. Consequently, the pious were warned not to buy wool, milk, or kids from shepherds on the assumption that it was stolen property. 8 Shepherds were not allowed to fulfill a judicial office or be admitted in court as witnesses. 9 A midrash on Psalm 23:2 reads, "There is no more disreputable occupation than that of a shepherd." 10 Philo, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher of Alexandria (25 BC - 45 AD), wrote about looking after sheep and goats, "Such pursuits are held mean and inglorious." 11

They lived outside most of the year. "Abiding in the field" (KJV) is the Greek verb agraule ō , "live out of doors." 12 Flocks were kept outside in this way from April to November, and, sometimes during the winter in suitable locations. 13 Shepherds were constantly with their sheep, since the sheep were vulnerable to all kinds of trouble. "Keeping watch" is a combination of two related Greek words, phulassō , "to carry out sentinel functions, watch, guard," 14 and phulakē , "the act of guarding." Together they carry the idea of "keep watch, do guard duty." 15 The shepherds made sure that the sheep were safe from wandering off and injuring themselves, as well as dangers from thieves and wolves.

The Glory of the Lord (2:9)

One minute the shepherds are talking quietly in the blackness of the winter sky. The next moment the hillside is ablaze with light and booming with the sound of an angel's voice.

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified." (2:9)

The brightness is more than just mega-candlepower. It is the radiance of God's own glory. "Glory" ( doxa , which we also see in verse 14) refers to "the condition of being bright or shining, brightness, splendor, radiance." 16 Throughout the Old Testament the presence of God is referred to as overwhelmingly bright, burning as fire, such as the cloud above the tabernacle by day and the pillar of fire by night (Exodus 16:7, 10; 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:11; Isaiah 6:3; 40:5; 60:1; Ezekiel 3:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:4; etc.). God's angels sometimes bear this same bright glory (Matthew 28:3; Luke 24:4; Daniel 10:6). In this case the glory shines around the whole area. The shepherds are frozen in terror. "Terrified" (NIV) or "sore afraid" (KJV) reads, literally, "feared with a great fear." 

The Good News Angel (2:10-11)

The angel moves first to calm their fears....

"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.'" (2:10-11)

This Good News angel has the enviable task of being the first herald of Messiah's birth. "Bring good news" (NIV) or "bring good tidings" (KJV) is the Greek verb euangelizō , from which we get our English word, "evangelize." Here it means, "bring good news, announce good news." Later in the New Testament it is widely used for "proclaim the message of salvation, preach the gospel." 17 This is very good news that results in joy, 18 intensified by the Greek adjective megas , "great, above standard in intensity." 19 This is great joy indeed!

Notice how broad is the angel's message. It is not for just the pious or for the Jew, but "for all the people." What wonderful news for those who are estranged from God and struggling under oppression! The baby is not just born to Mary and Joseph. The baby is born "to you" -- to the shepherd recipients of the message and all others.

"The town of David" 20 reminds the reader of the Messiah-child's connection with his ancestor David. Prophecy indicates that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. And what a fitting prophecy for these Bethlehem shepherds to recall, given 730 years previously by the prophet Micah:

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.... He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace." (Micah 5:2-3, 5a)

A Savior (2:11)

The angel also calls this baby "Savior" ( sōtēr ) "one who rescues, savior, deliverer, preserver." 21 In the prophecies about Jesus' birth in Luke 1-3 we observe this theme several times (1:69, 17, 77; 2:30-32; 3:6 from Isaiah 40:5). Jesus, quoting Isaiah, spelled out his mission this way:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19, quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2)

This Savior will bring both salvation from enemies and from sin -- but not just to the Jews but also to the Gentiles -- all people!

Christ the Lord (2:11)

Finally, the angel utters the words that Jews had longed for centuries to hear -- "He is Christ the Lord." Messiah! This Child is Messiah!

Our English word "Christ," of course, comes from the Greek adjective christos , "anointed," which translates Hebrew mashiah , transliterated in English as "messiah." 22 The angel's declaration, however, doesn't use the word "Christ" by itself, but in the phrase, "Christ the Lord." "Lord" ( kurios ) means "owner, lord, master, a designation of any person of high position." 23 Jews were used to reading "Lord" whenever the divine name "Yahweh" appeared in Scripture, so to Jewish ears, these two words, christos and kurios spoke of divinity. The meaning seems to "the highest conceivable and most lofty designation of Christ," 24 that is, "The Lord Messiah" or "the Messiah (and) the Lord" with connotations of kurios used of Yahweh himself, rather than just of an exalted personage -- a Savior who can be regarded as the Messiah-Yahweh. 25 The implications of this exalted title are staggering!

At the Sign of a Manger (2:12)

The shepherds are given a sign that the angel's message is true:

"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (2:12)

"Sign" ( sēmeion ) means "a sign or distinguishing mark whereby something is known, sign, token, indication." 26 The sign consists of two elements. The baby is: (1) wrapped in cloths, and (2) lying in a manger.

The phrase "wrapped in swaddling clothes" (KJV) or "cloths" (NIV) translates the Greek verb sparganoō , "to wrap in pieces of cloth used for swaddling infants, wrap up in cloths." 27 These were "strips of cloth like bandages, wrapped around young infants in order "to keep their limbs straight." 28 This was pretty common.

However, the second sign was that the newborn would be found in a manger -- that was unique! The Greek noun is phatnē , "manger, crib, feeding-trough." 29 A manager would indicate the location in some kind of stable. A second century legend indicates that this was in a cave. 30

Glory to God in the Highest (2:13-14)

After the angel's startling declaration, the heavens reveal a huge crowd of angelic beings:

"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.'" (2:13-14)

The crowd is described with two phrases: (1) "great company" or "multitude" 31 and (2) "heavenly host." "Host" is the Greek noun strateia , a military term that means "army." 32 God's heavenly army is mentioned several times in scripture (Joshua 5:14; 2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 34:7; 103:21; 148:2).

This heavenly army is praising God. 33 It may have been a heavenly choir as in popular Christmas lore, but the scripture doesn't explicitly say that they are singing as the angels in Revelation (5:11-13; 15:3). Here they seem to be chanting in unison or speaking (Greek leg ō , "utter words, say").

The content of their praise is (1) to give glory to God and (2) to offer a blessing of peace to men. "Glory" ( doxa ) is used here in the sense of "honor as an enhancement or recognition of status or performance, fame, recognition, renown, honor, prestige." 34 The angels promise peace (Greek eir ēnē ) -- peace between God and mankind, which essentially amounts to salvation.

We're used to the wording: "on earth peace, good will toward men," (KJV) but more ancient Greek manuscripts indicate a better translation: "on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (NIV). 35 The idea is that God extends his peace and salvation to his favored people, those whom he sovereignly chooses or elects to favor and save.

The Shepherd's Response (2:15-18)

Now the shepherds have a choice.

" 15 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.' 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (2:15-18)

They hurry to Bethlehem. Where do you find a manger? In a stable, of course. So they check out the stables in this village and come across one with a baby sleeping in it. They meet the Holy Family and share with them their story of the angelic visitation. Then they go and tell others what the angels have told them, just like the villagers did after the remarkable birth of John the Baptist (1:65). The NIV's translation "spread the word" seems to miss the point, which is rendered well in the KJV and NRSV: "They made known what had been told them about this child." The angel's announcement of "a savior, Christ the Lord" is spread throughout the area, resulting in amazement in the hearers.

Mary Ponders the Shepherd's Report (2:19)

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (2:19)

Mary has much to think about. "Treasured up" (NIV) or "kept all these things" (KJV) is suntereō , "to store information in one's mind for careful consideration, hold or treasure up (in one's memory)." 36 "Pondered" is sumballō , "to give careful thought to, consider, ponder," something similar to our colloquial "get it all together." 37 She has a lot to process, a lot to make sense of. The shepherds do also.

Joyful Shepherds (2:20)

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (2:20)

The final scene in this passage finds the shepherds climbing back up the hill to where their flocks lie. The angel had told them what to expect and that's just the way they found it. We leave them glorifying ( doxazō ) and praising ( aineō ), the appropriate response to this unforgettable night.

Lessons for Disciples

What are we disciples supposed to get out of this telling of the story of Jesus' birth? Several things:

• God brings Good News to the poor and humble . The shepherds, sometimes despised by their countrymen, were the first recipients of the Good News of Jesus' birth. Since God is no respecter of persons, we aren't to show favoritism either.
• The glory of the Lord is powerful and huge . Just because we don't see it visibly doesn't mean that God isn't active. He often works in quiet ways. Only occasionally does he confirm his presence in miraculous ways.
• Jesus is the heir of David.
• Jesus is the expected Savior, Messiah-Master-Lord-God in our midst.
• The Good News is for all people , Jew and Gentile alike.
• Not all people, however, receive God's peace , but only those whom he has sovereignly chosen. Don't let suggestions of predestination trouble you. Be humble enough to allow God to be sovereign beyond your own meager understanding of these things. Deal with it! :-)
• Appropriate responses to this Good News include "great joy" (2:10), praise (2:13-14, 20), curiosity to confirm its truth (2:15-16), amazement (2:18), telling others (2:17), and thoughtful meditation (2:19). Nowhere do we see unbelief.

Father, what an amazing night the shepherds had! To have a glimpse of your heavenly glory, to hear a mighty army chant your praise, to see the Messiah-Child, to listen to the angel recite his glorious titles -- Savior, Messiah, Lord. Thank you for letting us hear the story again. Write it large and indelibly in our hearts that we might be fervent Good News tellers, too. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

"And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn"  (Luke 2:7)

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11, KJV)

• Josh McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict (Campus Crusade for Christ, 1972), documents all these references and more in Chapter 5: "Jesus--a Man of History," pp. 83-89.
• Josephus, Antiquities 18.1-3,26, referred to in Acts 5:37.
• The controversy surrounding Quirinius and this census are discussed fully in Craig L. Blomberg, "Quirinius," ISBE 3:12-13; and Marshall, Luke , pp. 99-105. Usually Romans conducted a census where residents lived, but there is a precedent for the procedure we see in Luke 2:3-5. A decree of C. Vibius Maximus, dated in AD 104, required absentees to return to their home towns for a census in Egypt (P. Lond. 904, 20f; cited in J.M. Creed, St. Luke , London: Macmillan, 1930).
• A phrase in John Hopkins Jr.'s carol "We Three Kings" got me wondering: "Born a king on Bethlehem's plain" (1857). How could a town in the "hill country of Judah" have a plain? Bethlehem sits near the crest of the Judean central mountain spine that runs north and south in Israel, west of the great rift valley and east of the coastal plains that taper down to the Mediterranean to the west. A look at Google Earth or Google Maps makes clear its mountainous topography, as do photos of the town. Yet we see general reference to a plain in "Joy to the World" ("rocks, hills, and plains"), Isaac Watts (1719). But the references to a plain in Bethlehem where shepherds watched sheep is especially clear among nineteenth century song writers: "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" ("above its sad and lowly plains..."), Edmund H. Sears (1849); "Shepherds Watching O'er the Plain," Mrs. Gaskell (1916); "The Shepherds on Fair Bethlehem's Plain," Edward G. Selden (1916), "Bless�d Night, When First that Plain," Horatius Bonar (1857); "When, Marshaled on the Nightly Plain," Henry K. White (1812); "Far, Far Away on Judea�s Plains," John M. Macfarlane (1869); and "On Judah's Plains as Shepherds Sat," unknown author (1849). Even Edersheim's editor in Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (1887) makes that mistake (1:187). I guess in their romanticizing of the birth of Christ, song writers in the nineteenth century never traveled to the Holy Land.
• The date of December 25 goes back to Hippolytus (AD 165-235), and Chrysostom (AD 345-407), who stated in 386 that December 25 is the correct day. Brief discussion in William P. Armstrong and Jack Finegan, "Chronology of the New Testament," ISBE 1:688.
• Morris, Luke , p. 84. He cites Rabbinical sources that flocks were only to be kept in the wilderness ( Mishnah, Baba Kamma 7:7; Talmud, Baba Kamma 79b-80a). Any animal found between Jerusalem and a spot near Bethlehem must be presumed to be a sacrificial victim (Mishnah, Shekalim 7:4).
• Joachim Jeremias, "poim ēn , ktl.," TDNT 6:485-502.
• Joachim Jeremias, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus (SCM/Fortress Press, 1969), pp. 304-305. He cites b. Sanh. 25b; Strack and Billerback II, 114; M.B.K. x.9; T.B.K. xi.9, 370; b. Ket . 62b; b.B.K. 94b Bar . Green, Luke , p. 130, disputes this analysis. Rather, he sees them merely as "peasants, located toward the bottom of the scale of power and privilege." Marshall, Luke , p. 108, too, notes that the tradition of despised shepherds is late.
• Jeremias, "poim ēn , ktl.," TDNT 6:489.
• Midrash Ps. 23.2, ed. Buber, Vilna 1891, 99b.12, cited by Jeremias, Jerusalem , p. 311, fn. 42.
• Philo, de agric. 61, cited by Jeremias, Jerusalem , p. 311, fn. 42.
• Agrauleō , BDAG 15.
• Marshall, Luke , p. 108, cites Strack and Billerback II, 114-116; Morris, Luke , p. 84.
• Phulassō , , BDAG 1068.
• Phulakē , BDAG 1067.
• Doxa , BDAG 257.
• Euangelizō , BDAG 402.
• Chara , "the experience of gladness, joy" (BDAG 1077).
• Megas , BDAG 623-624.
• "City" or "town" is the Greek noun polis , which can refer "a population center of varying size," BDAG 844-845.
• Sōtēr , BDAG 985.
• See notes on mashiah , TWOT #1255c.
• Kurios , BDAG 576-579.
• Walter Grundmann, "chrio, ktl.," TDNT 9:532-33, quoting H. Sahlin.
• Marshall, Luke , p. 110. Cf. Green, Luke , p. 135.
• Sēmeion , BDAG 920.
• Sparganoō , BDAG 936. We don't use the English word "swaddle" much any more, but it is derived from the Old English word swathain , "to swathe, bind, wrap."
• Marshall, Luke , p. 106, cites Ezekiel 16:4 and Wisdom 7:4.
• Phatnē , BDAG 1050. The lexicographer indicates that the term "could perhaps be a stable or even a feeding-place under the open sky, in contrast to kataluma , a shelter where people stayed." The predominant idea of this word group is of feeding animals. Martin Hengel, phatnē , TDNT 9:49-55, denies the possibility in our context that this can be translated "stall."
• Ibid. Also Joachim Jeremias, "poimēn, ktl.," TDNT 6:491, fn. 59. A cave in Bethlehem was honored by Christians as Christ's birthplace as early as the early second century AD.
• Plēthos , "crowd, throng, host, assembly" (BDAG 825-826).
• Otto Bauernfeind, "strateuomai ktl.," TDNT 7:701-713.
• Aineō , here and in verse 20, means "to praise," with the root idea of "express approval" (BDAG 27).
• "Glory" is often used in the New Testament in the context of praise: Luke 19:38; Ephesians 1:6; 3:21; Philippians 2:11; Revelation 5:13 (BDAG 257-258). These angels honor God as being highest (Greek hupsistos ) in a spatial sense, in contrast to earth (mentioned in the next phrase) (BDAG 1045). Also Georg Bertram, "hupsistos," TDNT 8:619.
• The meaning of this phrase depends upon the case (nominative or genitive) of eudokia , which can mean either, (1) "state or condition of being kindly disposed, good will," or (2) "state or condition of being favored, favor, good pleasure" (BDAG 404-405). The KJV translation based on the Textus Receptus renders "good will" ( eudokia ) in the nominative case. However, newer translations, based on the oldest Alexandrian and Western Greek manuscripts, render it in the genitive case, "on earth peace among those whom he favors" (NRSV). Similar Semitic phrases -- "sons of his [God's] good pleasure" and "the elect of his good pleasure" -- occur in several Qumran hymns. (Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (United Bible Societies, 1971), p. 133, citing 1 QH iv.32f.; xi.9; viii.6. Marshall, p. 112.)
• Suntereō , BDAG 975.
• Sumballō , BDAG 956.

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The Importance of the Shepherds in the Christmas Story

• Hope Bolinger Author
• Updated Nov 30, 2021

Even if we haven’t had the delight of watching children perform in a Christmas pageant, we know that the Christmas shepherds appeared during the night of Jesus’ birth. Let’s take a look at the passage where this story is found in the Bible and why they are so important to the Christmas story - 

“ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those 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.”   Luke 2:8-15

What The Bible Says About the Shepherds

Apart from the narrative above, we don’t have much detailing on the shepherds. We know it was likely close to springtime, the time in which shepherds were out in the fields. And they worked, essentially, the second and third shift, staying up with the sheep. They would’ve lived outside of the borders of the town.

What else do we know about these shepherds?

According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary , “In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief.”

In essence, the job never stopped. In a modern context, we may know someone who works more jobs than they can handle just to pay the bills. These shepherds had to keep watch at night in case a wild beast or thief attempted to infiltrate the flock.

Which Angel Appeared to the Shepherds in the Christmas Story?

Their typically nightly duties hit a snag when the angel of the Lord appears to them and tells them the good tidings of the Messiah. Even if they didn’t have the strongest education, they would’ve had to memorize the first five books of the Bible in their youth. They had a familiarity with the prophecies of this Messiah.

Why Did God Choose to Shepherds About the Birth of Jesus First?

Now comes the ultimate question: why the Christmas shepherds? It does, after all, take the Magi (kings) two years to make the trek to Bethlehem. These shepherds are the literal first witnesses of Jesus’ birth, apart from the animals in the barn. We may often hear the reason , “Because God doesn’t care about riches. So he chose one of the most humble people in the land to witness the humble birth of our Savior.”

True, but the answer lies beyond just this. It foreshadows the important role Jesus will play as our Good Shepherd. Also, it f oreshadows how Israel will treat the Good Shepherd. Like the shepherds, Israel looked down and scorned Jesus.

But when the shepherds witness the birth first, this underscores the tone of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth. Instead of choosing a life of luxury and power, he has humble origins and exercises humility to the point of death on a cross. It all starts with the shepherds. It has to.

4 Facts about the Christmas Shepherds 

What else should we know about these characters that can help enhance our understanding of the passage found in Luke 2 ?

First, we should know that the Israelites had a shepherding heritage, whether they liked it or not.

The patriarchs themselves had hosts of sheep that they looked after. Job had 14,000 sheep. And the land abounded with these creatures. Even if these shepherds experienced derision from their fellow citizens, they had a wonderful history that made up the very fabric of Semitic life.

Secondly, the youngest boy of the family often ended up in the role of a shepherd. This makes sense as to why David cared for flocks while his brothers went off to war. As the last in the birth order, his father gave him the lowliest of positions. Imagine the ire of his brothers when they watched their lowliest brother become the high king of Israel.

Thirdly, shepherds also operated as physicians for the sheep. Sheep can often get sunburned or run into a scraggly bush (they aren’t the brightest of creatures). The shepherds administered medical care for their livestock. Similarly, Jesus calls himself our Great Physician. He binds up our wounds and heals us. Like sheep, we can often find that we bruise or cut easily. But we have a Healer and Provider in our flock.

How wonderful that God chose the lowest of the low to see the most important birth of all time. Because of their humble origins, the shepherds cannot help but rejoice and tell everyone they see about the birth of the Messiah. If God had chosen a king or a religious leader, the situation would’ve played out very differently. Instead, he picks a group of shepherds who set the tone for Jesus’ life and ministry.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ KristiLinton

Hope Bolinger  is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, book editor for hire, and the author of almost 30 books. More than 1500 of her works have been featured in various publications. Check out her books at hopebolinger.com   for clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Check out her editing profile at Reedsy.com to find out about hiring her for your next book project.

This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!

What Is Christmas? Understanding History, Origin, and Traditions The History of Santa Claus: Origin of St. Nicholas & Christmas Traditions Christmas Prayers and Blessings

The Beautiful Meaning and Purpose of Advent Advent Prayers Advent Wreath & Candles - History, Meaning, and Tradition The History and Meaning of the Advent Calendar

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Gospel for the Christmas - The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord

Luke 2:15-20.

For Mass at Dawn (Dec 25 at early morning)

Summary: After the angels' departure, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, finding Jesus in the manger with Mary and Joseph. They shared the angelic message about the child, amazing all listeners. Mary pondered these events in her heart. The shepherds returned, praising God for the truth of the wondrous news they had witnessed.

Shepherds Visit Jesus

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

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The Inn, the Manger, the Shepherds, and the Stable

I never want with these posts to make musical texts less meaningful to those who sing or hear them, and that is especially true with Christmas music. If I disagree with conventional ideas, rest assured that there will always be a deeper and richer meaning to be had in their place. As usual, I’ve had a ball diving down into various and sundry websites, finally coming up for air to share with you what I’ve discovered.

Probably everyone reading this post knows that the context for the birth of the Christ child in the town of Bethlehem is a Roman census: everyone has to go “to his own city.” (There’s a ton of controversy out there about what and when this “census” was; I’m not going to get into that whole issue here.) Joseph, we are told, was descended from King David, who came from Bethlehem and had been plucked out of obscurity as a youngest son and shepherd boy, ruling Israel way back around 1,000 BC. Bethlehem was therefore probably where Joseph was born. Why wasn’t he living there at the time of the census? We don’t know; in fact, we know very little about Joseph. Perhaps he had moved to Nazareth because there wasn’t much work for a carpenter in Bethlehem. But now he and Mary have had to travel back, a distance of about 100 miles. They would almost certainly have traveled in a group with other people; a lone journey was very dangerous, and they can’t have been the only ones needing to show up for the census. And those scenes with Mary barely making it into town and almost giving birth in the street are most assuredly not confirmed in the text, since we’re told that “while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.” They got there with time to spare. I’ve wondered, though, if perhaps they’d delayed their journey in the hopes that the baby would come before the trip? Impossible to know.

Okay. They got to the town and needed a place to stay. Here’s the verse that has spawned many a Christmas card and many a sermon about hard-hearted innkeepers:

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

First of all, charming and delightful as are all those pictures of the little stable with the animals gathered around a wooden hay-filled manger, they’re not accurate. (The star wasn’t there, either–it comes along later, with the wise men, or Magi .) Israelites didn’t typically keep their animals in an outdoor stable or barn; they actually kept the animals in a lower level of their own homes at night to keep them safe from thieves and predators. Sounds a bit disgusting, doesn’t it? But hey—we keep animals in our homes, too, don’t we? Cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, pot-bellied pigs—you name it. Right now there are two litterboxes in our living space for our three cats. It’s not a terribly different situation from back then. If we were living in biblical times we’d let the ox or donkey out in the morning and shovel out that lower space, letting it air out before putting down fresh straw for the next night. And there would be a manger or mangers for those animals to eat from, almost certainly made from stone and not wood.

We’ll get back to where the real manger might have been in a minute. But first let me deal with the “no room in the inn” issue. Since the town of Bethlehem was very small, it probably wouldn’t have had anything like a commercial hotel or motel. No Holiday Inns, in other words. May I impose a little Greek on you? The word translated “inn” is “κατάλυμα,” or “ kataluma ,” and it actually means “guest room” or “upper room.” Interestingly enough, it’s the same word as that used in the story of the Last Supper: Jesus tells the disciples to prepare a “ kataluma ”:

Say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber , where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? (Mark 14:14)

There is a Greek word that means a commercial inn, “ πανδοχεῖον ” or “ pandocheion ,” a term Luke uses in the story of the Good Samaritan in chapter 10 of his gospel. He clearly knew the difference between the two words since he used both of them.

But so what? They weren’t at this “inn,” whatever it was. Oh, right. Where does that leave us? Here’s where theories abound, two in particular, and I have to say that I find one of them to be quite compelling. First let me tell you about the one that seems likely at first blush but then seems to fall apart. As noted above, the word “inn” refers simply to the upper level of the house, the main space where everyone slept, ate, cooked, and lived and where guests could also be accommodated. Since Joseph and Mary were both descendants of David, they’d have had family in Bethlehem and probably planned to stay with them in that part of the house. But the little town was bursting at the seams because everyone had to show up for the census. There was no place for the couple to sleep on the main floor, so they were sent to bed down with the animals, manger and all. There would have been women in the house available to help with the birth. There was no dramatic scene with the innkeeper standing with arms crossed, shaking his head and shooing Joseph and Mary off, because there was no actual inn. All very clear, right?

Well, it might be except for one fact: the shepherds who came to the manger seemed to know exactly where to go. Here’s all that the angel who appears to them says:

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (Luke 2:10-12)

Did they stand around trying to figure out what the angel’s “sign” meant? No they did not. We’re told that as soon as the angels left them from them they got going:

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15-16)

They hurried right to the designated place, didn’t they? There’s no indication in the text that they had to go up and down the streets of the town, stopping passersby and saying, “Do you know anything about a baby being born tonight and put in a manger?”

So where was this manger that the shepherds seemed to know all about? Here’s where a more likely and compelling idea (to me, at least) comes to the fore: that Jesus was actually born in a structure right outside Bethlehem called the “Tower of the Flock.” Stick with me here, as I know this post is going to be longer than my usual limit of around 1,000 words. I hope, though, whatever your personal faith may be, that you’ll find this information to be truly fascinating. Prophecies about the coming Messiah in the Jewish Bible specifically referenced a “tower” at Bethlehem. Remember how the Magi came to Jerusalem asking where the “King of the Jews” had been born? Herod, who was technically the “King of the Jews” himself, called together the scribes and they came up with this verse:

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting . (Micah 5:2)

(“Ephratah” means “fruitful” and is a sort of nickname for Bethlehem, which itself means “house of bread.”)

A few verses earlier in Micah we see this:

And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. (4:8)

The Hebrew for “tower of the flock” is מגדל־עדר, or “ Migdal Eder. ” There are indeed stone watchtowers scattered throughout Israel, some of them used by shepherds to keep watch over their sheep. There is also the traditional location of Rachel’s tomb just outside Bethlehem which incorporates a “tower” or “pillar.” Scattered references in post-New Testament writings indicate that the fields around the town might have been used to raise the special sacrificial lambs for use at the Temple in Jerusalem, with the tower being used not only to keep watch but, in the lower level, for the ewes to give birth. So maybe the shepherds that the angels appeared to weren’t the humble, dirty outcasts usually portrayed but instead men trained in the Law and carrying out priestly duties. In the spirit of total transparency here, I will say that there’s much scholarly dispute about this idea and no hard-and-fast archaeological or documentary evidence.We have to be careful not to just say, “Well, it sounds good to me!” and leave it at that. Having admitted all that, though, I’m going to give you my take on how all of the foregoing would fit together using this theory. The narratives in Matthew and Luke simply don’t tell us everything. but the following ideas are perfectly in line with what little detail we are told:

The Roman census/enrollment/tax is proclaimed by Caesar Augustus, requiring that all those under Roman rule return to their place of birth or ancestral home. Mary is “great with child,” but there aren’t any exceptions being made. She and Joseph have to get to Bethlehem, and they do so, whether on foot or using a donkey. The journey probably takes at least a week and maybe longer, depending on how fast Mary can travel.

Perhaps because of the slowness of their travel, when Mary and Joseph finally get to Bethlehem there isn’t any room for them to stay with their relatives in the upper chamber. Also, and I didn’t get into this idea in the material above, a Jewish woman was considered ceremonially unclean for a certain period of time after childbirth, and we always have to remember to put this story into its Jewish context. So welcoming Mary into a crowded house where she couldn’t really be kept apart from everyone else would have caused a logistical problem not easily solved. Normally a pregnant woman would have arranged separate accommodation for the birth and its aftermath and wouldn’t have been doing any traveling for some time before. But Mary hasn’t had any choice. So what’s to be done?

There’s one place she and Joseph can go, someone says, a place that’s safe, protected, and clean: the birthing stalls for the lambs in the lower level of the Tower of the Flock. So that’s where the couple goes, and where the Christ child is born. Mary has probably brought along those “swaddling clothes” that puzzle us moderns so much; they’re simply cloth strips that are used to wrap up newborns. If she’d been living today she’d have brought along diapers and onesies.

Meanwhile, the shepherds out in the fields get the news about the new Messiah’s birth from the angels. They understand what they’re being told and know immediately where to go: back to their own tower with its mangers. Once they’ve seen the child they start spreading the word:

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds . (Luke 2:17-18)

Mary and Joseph stay at the Tower until her 40 days of purification are accomplished, at which time they go to Jerusalem to offer the required sacrifices. We know that they’re poor because they offer the two turtledoves/two pigeons alternative to a lamb. The trip to Jerusalem is often said to have occurred on the eighth day after Jesus’ birth, but that’s not what the text says. He’s been named Jesus and circumcised (by the town rabbi?) on that day, but the family doesn’t go to Jerusalem then. After their return from the ceremony they might have gone into the town of Bethlehem itself to stay with the relatives who had been their first choice. Or—who knows?—they might have returned to the Tower. Maybe they liked it there; maybe Joseph had found work with the shepherds. (Wild speculation on my part.) But whatever their exact lodging place may have been. they must have gone back to Bethlehem and not Nazareth because the Magi show up there and present their gifts, and this event has to have been after Mary’s 40-day purification. There simply hasn’t been time for the Magi to have gotten to Bethlehem all the way from Babylon in a shorter amount of time. (And remember, the Magi have gone to Jerusalem first to inquire of Herod: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” Herod is . . . “troubled” . . . by this question, but he recovers enough sang-froid to ask the Magi to come back and tell him where the child is, so that “I may come and worship him also.”)

The Magi are warned in a dream not to return to Jerusalem and report back to Herod, so they go back home by an alternate route. After Herod realizes that the Magi have ignored his request, he becomes enraged and orders the massacre of all children in Bethlehem under the age of two. (He’s probably giving himself a generous margin of error here.) Joseph has also been warned about Herod and takes his family to Egypt for some indeterminate period of time. They would have had the rich gifts from the Magi to use for living expenses. Upon their return to Israel they go to Nazareth. Then, except for the story about the 12-year-old Jesus visiting the temple and astounding/confounding the scribes there with his knowledge and wisdom, we don’t have any other information about his childhood.

And with that I’m going to force myself to stop. But if you’ve found this all to be quite intriguing I’m listing just a few additional sources at the bottom of this post that you might enjoy. In the meantime, here are a couple of lovely performances of “Away in a Manger,” a carol which doesn’t contradict what I’ve outlined above as long as you substitute “the sheep are a-bleating” for “the cattle are lowing.”

The first video has the tune that’s most commonly heard in America:

And here’s the most common one in the UK:

A-n-d, here are those extra resources I mentioned:

First, from a source that would be worth reading for its title alone, “Dr. Platypus”–“ When Was Jesus Born? The Census ”

Then, a very well-researched article about the whole “Tower of the Flock” idea, “ Migdal Eder and the Birth of Christ ”

And another one on that same subject, exploring the symbolism of the “tower” idea: “ The Christmas Lamb ”

Here’s the clickable link to the website referenced in the image caption: “ Away In a Manger at Migdal Eder ”

All Scripture references in this post are from the King James Version of the Bible, public domain.

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2 thoughts on “The Inn, the Manger, the Shepherds, and the Stable”

Very interesting, I really enjoyed this post, thanks, Debi!

Interesting and an enjoyable read. Most homes of the day would have had animals kept for daily living: a donkey for transporting things and themselves, chickens for eggs, goats/sheep for wool/mohair, cow for milk, etc. (but no pigs). These would be kept in the lower or to the side of the living quarters and let out during the day. Joseph was a carpenter and could pick up work anywhere and in any town they visited. Mary was a direct descendant of King David and therefore a religious Jew and therefore would stay well clear of any unclean animal. The child was named Yeshua, the Hebrew name, and its English spelling is “Joshua.” Iesous is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name, and its English spelling is “Jesus.” There is no “J” in the Hebrew alphabet, Mary would have to take a religious bath called a “mikvah”. each synagogue would have this as well as a woman attendant just a few thoughts to add to the post.

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ACCOUNTS & SERVICES

Shepherds visit the manger.

TEXT: Luke 2:8-20

IT was a starry night. The little lambs were sleeping with their mother sheep. The shepherds were standing and sitting around the fire talking softly in the cool night air. It was very quiet and still.

As the shepherds watched the twinkling stars something wonderful happened. Suddenly, quickly the sky was just filled with a bright, bright light and there was an angel from Heaven. The light was so bright, it perhaps hurt the shepherds’ eyes. It wasn’t like any light they had ever seen before. They had never seen an angel before, either; and they were afraid.

Then the angel talked to the shepherds way out there in the hill near Bethlehem. The angel in the bright light said, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

The shepherd men stood very still as the angel talked to them. They listened to every word. The angel said that a Baby was born, “You will find the Baby Jesus, and His mother Mary, and Joseph. The Baby is sleeping in the hay in a manger.”

Quickly, again, even before the shepherds could say a word, they heard some beautiful, beautiful music coming from the sky. The whole big sky was filled with more, and more, and more angels. They were singing a beautiful song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The singing filled the air. None of the shepherds had ever heard such pretty singing. Only the angels could sing like that.

Now the light began to go away from the sky. It went away just a little more and a little more until the shepherds could hardly see it. The singing and the angels went away, too; the singing got softer and softer until it couldn’t be heard at all. The light was gone. The angels were gone; the music was all gone. It was just as dark and quiet and still as it was before the angels had come. The angels had gone back to Heaven.

“Something wonderful has happened,” said the shepherds to one another. “Let us go and find the Baby Jesus. We will go into the city of Bethlehem and find Him.” He was the Son of God — God’s little Boy.

Down the hillside the shepherds hurried in the cool night. They went along a little road looking for the stable where the Baby Jesus was sleeping.

There it is. Into the little stable quietly and lovingly went the shepherds. They knelt before the manger where the little Baby Jesus lay. They knelt to show Him how much they loved Him, just as we kneel today when we pray to Jesus. We do it to show Him how much we love Him.

After the shepherds had seen the Baby Jesus, they went back to the little lambs and sheep out on the hills near Bethlehem. They always remembered what they saw that night when Jesus was born. They never forgot the beautiful music and the angels from Heaven.

We are like the shepherds, a little. We don’t take care of any little lambs but we have been told again and again that Jesus is coming to earth. The shepherds knew He was coming someday too, but they didn’t know when. He came as a little Baby then. When Jesus comes back to us He will be the same Jesus. The Baby Jesus grew up and became tall and had a real kind face. He blessed the little children and healed the blind and they could see. He made the sick well and they became strong. The shepherds believed that Jesus would come. He did. We believe that Jesus will come back to get us. He will. We are looking for Him every day, just as they were looking for Him.

The angels came down from Heaven all of a sudden and talked to the shepherds. Jesus is coming down from Heaven someday, all of a sudden, and He will take all those who love Him and obey Him right into Heaven to live with Him.

We did not get to go to the stable that day to see little Baby Jesus, but we will see Jesus; when we go to Heaven we will see Mary and Joseph and the shepherds who loved Him.

How glad the owner of the stable must have felt to have the Baby Jesus come to the stable where the cows and sheep stayed! He did not know that Jesus was coming, but when Mary and Joseph found no other place he made room for them.

Jesus’ loving Spirit needs a home on earth today. Jesus’ love cannot live in a house as we do. There is only one place Jesus’ love can live, and that is in a heart. Is Jesus living in your heart?

Sacred Stories for Children

Theme thoughts, apostolic faith church.

Luke 2:8-20 International Standard Version

The shepherds visit jesus.

8  In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night. 9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10  Then the angel told them, “Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. 11  Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah, [ a ] was born in the City of David. 12  And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

13  Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying, 14  “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!” [ b ]

15  When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about.” 16  So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough. 17  When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child. 18  All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19  However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them. 20  Then the shepherds returned to their flock, [ c ] glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

• Luke 2:11 Or Christ
• Luke 2:14 Other mss. read peace on earth, and favor to people
• Luke 2:20 The Gk. lacks to their flock

Luke 2:8-20 New International Version

8  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9  An angel ( A ) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. ( B ) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11  Today in the town of David a Savior ( C ) has been born to you; he is the Messiah, ( D ) the Lord. ( E ) 12  This will be a sign ( F ) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14  “Glory to God in the highest heaven,      and on earth peace ( G ) to those on whom his favor rests.”

15  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.”

16  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ( H ) 17  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ( I ) 20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God ( J ) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Cross references

• Luke 2:9 : S Ac 5:19
• Luke 2:10 : S Mt 14:27
• Luke 2:11 : S Mt 1:21; S Jn 3:17; 4:42; Ac 5:31; 13:23; S Ro 11:14; 1Ti 4:10; 1Jn 4:14
• Luke 2:11 : Mt 1:16; 16:16, 20; Jn 11:27; Ac 2:36; 3:20; S 9:22
• Luke 2:11 : S Jn 13:13
• Luke 2:12 : 1Sa 2:34; 10:7; 2Ki 19:29; Ps 86:17; Isa 7:14
• Luke 2:14 : Isa 9:6; 52:7; 53:5; Mic 5:5; Lk 1:79; S Jn 14:27; Ro 5:1; Eph 2:14, 17
• Luke 2:16 : ver 7
• Luke 2:19 : ver 51
• Luke 2:20 : S Mt 9:8

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Daily Christian Devotionals

The Shepherds Visit Jesus In A Manger

In Luke, chapter 2 , we hear the most beautiful story of the birth of Jesus, and the shepherds also hearing the good news from an angel of the Lord. Truly, these shepherds were blessed to be the first people to hear of the good news of Jesus’s birth and then to be invited to see Him in a manger. Upon hearing about the Lord’s birth, angels surrounded them and sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” ( Luke 2 :14) T his is that story. It reads, “and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” ( Luke 2 :8-14)

Much like the angels sang out glory to God in the highest, I have sung this also over the years during the Christmas season, for Jesus is so wonderful and means everything to me. Now, I love how the shepherds heard the good news of the Messiah being born and ran to see Him. This is that story, “and it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” ( Luke 2 :15-20) The Lord did show the shepherds where Jesus was laying. They were so amazed at what they saw that they gave glory to God. We are to also glorify God for Christ’s birth. Amen.

Let us pray: Oh Lord, I pray that we will remember Your birth, not only in this Christmas season but every day of our life. I look to You, Lord, and bless You. Come and be a part of my life and my family forevermore. I want to be with You in heaven, but I know that I still have things to do on this earth. Surely, many people will regret that chance in accepting You as Lord when they die. Although I fall at times because of temptation, I will not dwell in sin, for living for You means more to me than what the lusts of the flesh bring. So open people’s hearts to desire something more in this life. What You offer us is so much better than we can accept through money or other things in this world. I am always left thirsty and hungry without Your constant presence in my life. I love You, Jesus. Because You came into my life I have much to give thanks. Not to men, but to You, my God. I will glorify in no person, but in You, my God. Praise Yahuah, who is the King of kings and Lord of all Lords. People can lift themselves up in their pride, but they will never prevail without You. I trust in You, God, even my high tower and fortress. I give You glory and praise. I love You, Lord. Help me decrease as You increase in my life. Amen.

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Friendly faith reminder: Jesus is the 'Good Shepherd' that humanity needs, says evangelical leader

"Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep'" (John 10:11). 

This verse comes from the Gospel of John , one of the four gospel narratives in the New Testament. While the exact authorship of this gospel is unknown, it is most commonly attributed to the Apostle John, says the website Catholic Answers. 

In some Christian denominations , this Sunday is regarded as "Good Shepherd Sunday." 

The statement that Jesus is the "good shepherd" is less relevant now than it would be at the time it was spoken, evangelical leader Rev. Johnnie Moore of Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital — but it is still a powerful analogy. 

PEACE OF JESUS CHRIST 'WILL DRIVE ALL ANXIETY, EVERY FEAR, FROM OUR HEARTS,' SAYS DC-BASED FRIAR

"Back then, sheep and shepherds were everywhere," he said. 

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Moore is president of the Congress of Christian Leaders. Twice appointed to the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom, he is also the author of "The Next Jihad" and "The New Book of Christian Martyrs." 

In biblical times, as well as today, "Calling someone a sheep wasn’t exactly a compliment," said Moore.  

"Sheep are impulsive," he said. "They’re not that smart. They’re rebellious often, and when they’re not being rebellious, they’re just following the crowd. Without a shepherd, they’re hopeless." 

EASTER CONTINUES TO BRING GIFTS OF THE RESURRECTED JESUS, SAYS WASHINGTON, D.C., NUN

On Good Shepherd Sunday, "we remember that however modern, affluent, powerful or secure we may become, we still need God," he said.

In God, "we find a shepherd who will care for us as we journey through life’s ups and downs." 

In biblical times, a person would occasionally see a sheep "slung around the neck of the shepherd" out in the field, said Moore. 

This meant either the sheep had been accidentally injured, or that the shepherd himself had broken the leg of a rebellious sheep to prevent it from running away. 

"Whether it was life’s misfortune or the sheep’s mistake, the shepherd kept the sheep close until it healed entirely," he said.

EASTER BUNNY TEACHES KIDS ‘TRUE MEANING’ OF EASTER IN NEW BOOK WITH FAITH FOCUS

After the sheep was healed, they "stuck closest to the shepherd even when they could run again."  

During life, "there are often more bad days than good days," said Moore. 

And while skeptics might take the presence of bad days to try to test the faith of Christians , this is the wrong approach.

"Those who’ve gone through life’s ringer understand that the most important question to ask during life’s challenging days isn’t, ‘Why?’ but ‘Who?’" said Moore. 

He continued, "'Who' is this God whom billions of people over hundreds of centuries have put their hope in?" 

"See, if God was trustworthy then, God is trustworthy now," he said. 

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God, said Moore, "is never closer to you than when skeptics think He's furthest away." 

He added, "God doesn’t promise us life will be easy, but He does promise us he’ll never leave us," he said — just as the shepherd does not leave his flock. 

"We can’t always understand God (if we could, he would not be God) — but He understands us," said Moore.

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Original article source: Friendly faith reminder: Jesus is the 'Good Shepherd' that humanity needs, says evangelical leader