WHY THE SHEPHERDS?
A Christmas Monologue
We talked among ourselves. Good News! Indeed this was the greatest of all news. We met an angel. We saw the baby. We found the solution to everything.
One or two thought the baby born would be king, but that is nonsense. Kings are not born in stables, are they? Further, if anyone was to be king I have as many credentials as the new born. I also am a descendant of David. Nearly everyone in Bethlehem in these days of the census is. If I were not, I would have had to do what these parents did, I would be on a journey to the city of MY ancestry. I say I have the credentials, and I am not boasting. It is a mere fact.
My fellow shepherds could claim the same. We are all from Bethlehem and descendants of the Great King. But claiming to be a king these days is dangerous business. If Rome hears rumors of a king it will send soldiers to sniff around. No one wants Roman soldiers nosing in their business.
But this child? Quite simply he is “family.” He is one of hundreds of the children of David. He is MY relative, from MY clan. I’m happy that our clan has been chosen of God for the promised Messiah. God’s own is OUR own.
Why did the angel come to us in the fields. We were awake. We were close by. We were family. Family should be close by when a child is born to one of their own. Joseph’s parents are asleep, that means other relatives are called to rejoice and share in his good news; his son is born. For that we are pleased to have been chosen.
But an ANGEL!!!
Well! Shepherds know history. We have lots of time to look at stars and talk. What do we talk about except family and family history. So, we are familiar with how shepherding has changed since the time of Jesse and his sons. You see, back then Bethlehem was small and so was Jerusalem. We raised sheep for the local folk. Jerusalem never has had much good pasture, being on the edge of a desert. So, those clans also relied on us for meat, milk, cheese, wool, and leather for wine skins, pouches, sandals, belts, and reins.
After David became king he moved the Israelite capital to Jerusalem and began major building projects. The city became much larger and shepherds increased their flocks to keep up with the demand. Soon we were raising more sheep for meat, milk, and cheese than for wool. There were times when we couldn’t meet the demand.
When Solomon began to rule construction ramped up again. The city was enlarged; with new stronger walls. Then Solomon built the first temple in Jerusalem, the city of God. We could no longer raise enough sheep for the needs of the region. Moreover, the main purpose for our work quickly changed. We no longer raised sheep for food and wool and leather. No, we became the principal suppliers of the temple and the priests. Our lambs were offered as sacrifices.
Do you know what that means? Our little lambs and goats were taking the sins of every family upon their own heads and paying the penalty.
We carefully planned when it was lambing time, assisting when needed. We watched those poor lambs struggle to survive. We watched the young males, without a care in the world, prance across the pasture, and run back to their mothers. All the time we knew, we knew, that in a few short months each local family would select a lamb and take it home on the first day of the week; a few days later that lamb would become part of the Passover meal along with unleavened bread, bread that would be broken in remembrance of God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It was hard on us. It was, in fact, a heavy burden. These young sheep would serve spiritual tasks. Their blood would be poured out for sins, and their bodies offered to God, their meat eaten in remembrance. We are “temple shepherds” not ordinary shepherds. These lambs have done nothing to deserve death, yet year after year they are offered up.
We are not unaware of our shame. The sin of Israel and Judah became so great in the generations following Solomon that even these sacrifices were not enough and God sent a remnant into exile. Our ancestors were carried away and lived in Babylon for 70 years before re-patronizing our city and our task. The temple was rebuilt. But we have held out for the promise of Micah, “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” We have steadfastly looked for the One.
Why did the angel come to us? I think it is clear. The angel came to tell us the Good News that the Messiah had come and we would soon be out of a job. The Messiah! We, the “temple shepherds,” anticipated and prayed for his coming! So, after the announcement by the angel, we went to the stable and worshiped the One who would forever take away the sins of the world.
Just like the lambs he was pure and innocent, and sleeping without a concern. But we knew, we knew, that he would soon carry a horrible burden. We could not keep silent. The Gospel is like that. When one has Good News one shares.
My greatest desire is that God would be pleased with me. That’s probably the real reason the angel came to us. My fellow shepherds and I are worshipers of the one true God. I know some from Bethlehem who are not very religious. You couldn’t say that of those of us who were on the hillside tonight. We pray about everything. We follow the Law and the prophets seeking to know God’s heart. We talk about God’s love and joy. We have been looking for the Messiah for a long time. Tonight we worshiped him.
Luke 2:8-20 (ESV): “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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 among those with whom he is pleased!’
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
Copyright 2025 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
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