Are you a camper? You
know, one of those folks who likes to go into the woods, find a spot by the
lake, pitch your tent, build a fire, eat some S’mores and watch the stars come
out at night? I am not. (Though I do like S’mores.) My only real tent-camping experience came one
rainy night in a pup tent with my best friend as a young boy. The clouds opened and we were drenched. Welcome to the world of the outdoors! Maybe that’s why I never did it again?
Not everyone has a choice about sleeping under the stars. In the days surrounding the birth of Jesus, a
mini-industry had been created that supplied sheep for sacrifice in the temple
in Jerusalem. Since Bethlehem was only
about 6 miles away and the area supported the grazing flocks, it made sense to
locate the shepherds and their charges in that region. Unfortunately, the nature of the job required
that the shepherds were ruled unfit to worship because they couldn’t meet the
Rabbinic standards for cleanliness. They
couldn’t wash properly; they would enclose their flocks in make-shift stone
enclosures at night; and then lay across the entrance to the sheep pen to
protect these would-be sacrifices. That
life made it impossible to meet the strict standards to be “religiously
acceptable”.
Instead, these dedicated servants watched the sun set and
the stars come out each night, committed to the well-being of each member of
the flock. I’m sure they swapped stories
around the fire after dinner and slept in shifts so someone was always awake to
“man the watch”. But on one special
night, these misfits of Bethlehem became the chosen audience for a
once-in-eternity event:
In
the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at
night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But
the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good
news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a
Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you…When the
angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has
made known to us.” They hurried off and
found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding
trough. After seeing them, they reported the
message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at
what the shepherds said to them.
Luke 2:8-18
These shepherds didn’t feel very religious, but the God of
Creation thought them special enough to send His special angelic messenger to
share the breaking news of the Messiah’s arrival with THEM. Think about how significant that was! Outcasts from their own religion who were
told they were saved by this Child, not by some complicated system. And then they shared that truth with others
who were equally amazed! While not everyone
is cut out to be a camper or a shepherd, we who believe in the One who came
that starry night to save a band of misfits are also called to share the same
Good News. This Christmas, share the
truth – and share a gift – that will take that amazing story to lives you may
never touch yourself. I’ve included some
links to help you share the wonderful story of Christ. It’s great news! Pass it on!
Jacob
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