O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Christians know that the Christmas story involves a group of shepherds near the little town of Bethlehem on that first Christmas so long ago. It is no accident that the angels appeared to the shepherds, because they were very important in the history of Israel. [1]

Abraham, the earliest ancestor of the Israeli people, was a shepherd, just like Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and the other patriarchs. Moses, the great deliverer and a leading prophet until Christ, despite being educated in Pharaoh’s court, spent his years of preparation tending to his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep. Shepherding was deeply rooted in Israel’s heritage, much as making, programming, selling, and repairing computers and software are part of American life today.

The life of a shepherd was difficult due to the need for sheep to be defended, led, and protected, as well as fed. The job was filled with boring, routine tasks, including finding the sheep’s food and water and keeping them safe. If animals wandered away, shepherds were responsible for finding them. If the sheep were in danger, shepherds were duty-bound to rescue them—though poor shepherds often ran away (John 10:11-13).

The image of a leader as a shepherd has deeply shaped Israel’s history and traditions. David, celebrated as the greatest king, was actually a shepherd in his early days. The idea of the ‘King as Shepherd,’ from the story of David—the “Shepherd of Israel” (Ps. 78:70-72)—holds a special place in Jewish literature and history. David, a young shepherd from Bethlehem, was sent by his father to meet King Saul and unexpectedly ended up fighting a giant. Through his courage, he became Israel’s most revered warrior and king.

If David had the integrity and skill that God called for in Israel’s leaders, his successors generally fell short. God held Israel’s leaders accountable for neglecting their duty to care for the flock because they were self-centered and morally flawed shepherds (Jeremiah 23:1-4). Truly virtuous shepherds should be vigilant protectors of the flock, committed to gathering and caring for God’s people, and attentive to the needs of the sheep entrusted to them. Sadly, after David, Israel’s leaders did not pass this important test (Ezekiel 34:1-5).

By the time Jesus was born, shepherds weren’t seen as very important. As Israel became more advanced and wealthier, and as leaders in religion, business, and other areas gained influence, the role of an ordinary shepherd became less attractive. Sheep can be quite dirty and don’t smell very pleasant, which made it difficult for shepherds to stay clean or avoid ritual uncleanliness—something that was important in Jewish customs. Over time, shepherds went from being respected members of the community to doing more manual work. That’s exactly the kind of people the angels visited that night. They were hardworking men who endured long years of tending sheep in the heat of summer and the cold of winter.

A Shepherd’s Adventure

Nevertheless, the shepherds of Israel always remembered David, just as we think of George Washington today. They also cherished the promises in the Torah about a new kind of Shepherd, a “Good Shepherd,” who would someday lead Israel. While they believed that God himself would become this shepherd, as the prophets said (Ezekiel 34:11), they never imagined it would happen in their own lifetimes.

1. 1. God meets us right where we are. Back in the day, the Jewish people, even during Jesus’ time, practiced animal sacrifices. They often offered sheep to seek God’s forgiveness for their sins and for many other reasons too. It took a lot of sheep to keep the Temple in Jerusalem supplied. Some farmers, who probably had contracts with shepherds, likely supplied these sheep. Their fields were perhaps close to Bethlehem, just a few miles from Jerusalem, where the Temple was. The shepherds mentioned in Luke were tending their sheep in those fields that very night.

I suppose it was just an ordinary night, like the nights they had experienced a thousand times before. They weren’t doing anything particularly religious. In fact, like men everywhere, they were most likely together, telling stories about their wives and girlfriends and dreaming of getting back home and out of the cold.

Why did angels appear to these shepherds? It’s because God often surprises us in ways we never expect. He doesn’t always show up in our plans, but that’s what makes discovering Him so exciting and special. No matter where we are, God always finds us, ready to meet us right where we are. Remember, your own journey of faith can begin right here, right now, with an open heart and a hopeful spirit.

2. A Strange Light. In the quiet of the night, the shepherds suddenly noticed a beautiful light shining from the sky. It was unlike any light they’d ever seen—brighter than the sun yet gentle, not hurting their eyes. This was the glorious light of heaven, the Uncreated Light of God. In that luminous glow, they saw a figure and recognized it as an angel, filling them with awe and wonder.

People often wonder, “How did they know it was an angel?” My only reply is that if you ever meet an angel, you’ll recognize it right away. The word “angel” means a messenger from God, and angels always have a message to share—that’s why God sends them. In this case, the angel had a special message: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy to all people, for today is born to you in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

If you’re like me, you might hear those Christmas words so often that they start to blend into the background. It can bring a warm glow and make you think, “Oh, it’s Christmas!” But the shepherds probably experienced a very different reaction. When they heard about the Messiah’s birth, they were genuinely surprised and filled with joy—more than just a little happiness—because they believed the Messiah would restore the kingdom of David. And when the angel called this “good news to all people” (v. 10), the shepherds might have initially felt a bit confused, thinking that the birth of the Messiah was mainly good news for the Jewish people, and not necessarily for others, especially the Romans and Herod, who was the ruler at that time.

            Many of us struggle to fully grasp God’s messages. Sometimes I also struggle to understand what God is saying or doing in certain situations. We all read the Bible, but there are many parts that can be confusing, especially when we read about ancient kings and prophets. Most first-century Jews believed that God would send a savior, but that’s where their understanding stopped. They probably never imagined what kind of savior it would be. Many thought of the Messiah as a mighty warrior and king, expecting Him to come from a wealthy or powerful family. But they often overlooked that David was a humble shepherd boy when God called him. Like us, they sometimes misunderstand the prophecies of the “Suffering Servant” in Isaiah.

Maybe you get confused when you try to read your Bible, and maybe God does not always make sense to you. Personally, I think that is O.K. The important thing is to keep reading and trying to understand. Reading and hearing God’s word in the Bible and trying to apply it to our lives are part of the “Adventure of Faith.”

3. We Must Experience the Good News for Ourselves. The angel told the shepherds they could expect a sign, that they would “find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (v. 13). This probably didn’t seem like much of a sign at the time. Almost all babies in their culture were wrapped in swaddling clothes, so there was nothing unusual about that. The manger was a bit unusual, but shepherds were an agricultural people and had probably seen other babies in just as silly a place while parents worked around the barn. The most unusual thing was that a barn was a completely ridiculous place to find a king. (I am sure you would agree.) One would expect a king to be born in a palace.

All of a sudden, the shepherds saw a host of angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill toward those with whom God is pleased” (v.14). Then, just as unexpectedly as they had come, the angels left. They were all alone in a cold field in the middle of the night.

After the angels left, the shepherds excitedly began sharing their amazing experience. The leader of their small group, who was caring for the sheep, likely wanted to stay and keep everyone safe, showing his wise instincts. He might have been worried that if they headed into town, a wolf or lion could pose a danger to the flock. Still, everyone was eager and hurried into town, curious about what awaited them.

Today, you can go to Bethlehem and see a field where legend says we were keeping sheep that night. It is about a mile out of town, so it took us about 20 minutes in the dark to walk there. Once we were there, we had to search for a stable. We found one in a small cave on the hillside behind an inn. There is a Greek Orthodox Cathedral on the spot, the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest Christian churches in the entire world! According to tradition, this is where the shepherds found Mary and Joseph and their newborn child.

 I often wonder what life might have been like if those shepherds had stayed in the fields that special night instead of heading into the city. Here in our country, we celebrate Christmas with so much joy—exchanging thoughtful gifts, shopping, and carefully selecting the perfect presents for loved ones. But the very first Christmas was much simpler and more meaningful. Hearing the angel’s message and visiting Baby Jesus filled the shepherds’ hearts with wonder. I truly believe that if we take a quiet moment to reflect on that story and allow the presence of Jesus to touch our lives—and the lives of our children—it can become even more special. Remember, even if you hear the story on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, it’s truly meaningful when you personally visit the manger and invite Jesus into your heart, where He can touch you deeply.

Conclusion

History doesn’t tell us exactly what happened after the shepherds left the manger. We only know they went home, filled with joy and gratitude, saying they were ‘glorifying and praising God for all the things we had seen” (v. 20). As Jesus grew up, people responded in different ways—some as devoted followers, recognizing him as a great teacher and miracle-worker; others turned against him when he was crucified; and a few finally understood his significance after God raised him from the dead. It was then that the importance of the shepherds’ visit became clear. Being among those tending the temple flocks that night meant more than a simple act—it pointed to something special. We saw not only the “Chief Shepherd of the sheep” (I Peter 5:4) but also “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), highlighting how meaningful that moment was. [2]

What glorifies God in the end is that all of us who have really seen the Babe can or want to do – glorify and praise God, for he does things none of us can imagine. You know what? Telling the story of Jesus to others is the greatest adventure in the world!

Copyright 2025, G. Christopher Scruggs, All Rights Reserved

[1] The description is based on a portion of my dissertation. See, G. Christopher Scruggs, Patterns and Practices for Renewing Mainline Congregations: Case Studies from the Presbytery of Memphis (Unpublished Dissertation, 2004), 31-35. It was also the subject of a first-person sermon I gave some years ago at Christmas in Memphis, TN.

[2] See Barclay, at 17.