About Those Shepherds

It’s very telling that the story Charles Shultz decided to use was not the kingly story of Matthew with its big star and fancy gifts, nor did he use other parts of the Luke story—talking about Mary and Joseph, or the lack of room in the Inn. He focuses on the shepherds. This is Luke’s main focus too- the actual birth of Jesus only gets 2 lines. By telling us the story of the shepherds, Luke is saying, “Listen up- something here may seem simple and lowly, but there’s so much more to the story than that”

I think the reason Luke tells us the story this way is to remind us that good news is often given to unexpected recipients from unexpected sources and gets an unexpected response.

Good news is given to unexpected recipients. The first noel the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay… not to kings on thrones, not to important religious leaders, not to the rich members of society’s elite. No, the first people to get the news of Jesus’ birth was a group of shepherds hanging out on a hillside. Physically separated from the town because their occupation required it. They were probably more than a little smelly, more than a little dirty, and probably less than thrilled about spending another night out on the hillside. It was dark, probably cold, and there were sheep to keep an eye on- sheep that could wander away or be stolen or be eaten by something bigger. They were physically and figuratively on the margins of their society, and yet. They get the good news first. They were the first ones to know about Jesus’ birth. These dirty, tired, shepherds on a hillside were the first to know about the messiah. They were unexpected recipients of the best news ever.

Good News often comes from unexpected sources. And what is more unexpected than a voice from the sky? So here are these shepherds—hanging out on their hillside. And all of the sudden the sky LIT UP as bright as day! Now, I don’t know about you, but if I was sitting outside in the dark and suddenly there was light bursting all around, I’d be more than a little startled. I’d be down right scared. And these shepherds were—they were SO afraid. But then they heard the voice- and it said “Do Not Be Afraid, I have good news for you.” In our modern context, we too sometimes receive the good news of Christmas in unexpected ways. I think about the stories that pop up on my facebook feed- those moments of joy shared with technology- or even the rare instance of a “feel good” story on the evening news. But of course, this was the biggest news ever shared, as the Angel says “I have BIG news. Tonight a baby has been born in Bethlehem and this kid is going to change EVERYTHING! Hurry- hurry to Bethlehem and see him lying in a manger.” Suddenly, there wasn’t just one angelic voice, but rather the sky was filed with a whole host of angels. And the shepherds realized the magnitude of what they had been told.

Good news often gets an unexpected response. How did these shepherds respond to the news? First with fear and awe, but then they got up and went. We aren’t given the logistics of what they did with their sheep—perhaps they brought them along. Maybe it was their barn anyway and that’s where the sheep lived. Maybe they left the sheep out there to fend for themselves. Could we do this? Could we leave our responsibilities behind and take such a risk? Heck, most of us can’t even go 30 minutes without checking e-mail or worrying about work. But they did! Those shepherds got themselves to Bethlehem. And there, in that barn in Bethlehem, the shepherds confirm God’s good news to Mary and Joseph. Unexpected news, from an unexpected source. And then the shepherds went back out into Bethlehem, back out towards the hillside- and they told the story- again and again. They glorified and praised God. They shared the news. All of creation would eventually celebrate this birth, but the Shepherds—these dirty, smelly, marginalized people on the hillside were the first to know and the first to share. They told the story of this refugee family, the baby born in the barn, the news from the angels. They didn’t just hear the good news, they responded—they shared.

The good news comes to all people, for all people. It comes for the marginalized, the dirty, the smelly, those on the outskirts and the outside. And then…good news comes FROM the marginalized, the outcasts, from refugees. The shepherds remind us that good news is given to unexpected recipients from unexpected sources and with an unexpected response. We must be willing to watch, to wait, and to listen. We need to be like those kids from the Charlie Brown special— willing to be changed when the good news arrives.