Luke 2:8-18 KJV 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 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. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
The birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. Our hope and salvation.
Why did God choose to share this magnificent event with shepherds first? I’d like to show you.
Jeremiah 3:15 KJV And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Did you know that the word pastor in the Bible can be translated as shepherd? With that being said I would like to look at the shepherd and his duties.
Shepherds lead and guide their sheep to pastures and water. They protect their sheep from wild animals and enemies. They care for their sheep, tending to the sick and wounded, and searching for lost sheep. They provide food and drink for their sheep. They guard their sheep at night and count them as they enter the fold.
You see a pastor does these things as well. They lead and guide people. They protect them spiritually in prayer and in guidance. They pray for the sick and often help others. They are constantly looking for those that are lost. They feed people by preaching to them. They guard people in prayer.
In John 21: 15-17 Jesus tells Peter 3 times to feed my lambs or sheep. Jesus was establishing the shepherd mentality in them. He took fishermen and made them shepherds.
1 Samuel 13:14 KJV But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
There are many reasons that David was a man after God’s own heart. One was that he was a shepherd and had the heart of a shepherd. Notice that this was mentioned before David became king, while he was just a shepherd. This was actually a warning to Saul. Saul was just a leader and one that was easily influenced by circumstances and people’s opinions. David was not like this. Neither are true Pastors, men of God, that are called and are following God.
Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about where we started. Why did God choose to tell the shepherds first? He is going to share the message with the Shepherds/Pastors first. They have to lead the flock and in order to lead them in the right direction they need God’s message and His direction. In Hebrews 13:20 Jesus is called that great shepherd of the sheep. As the great shepherd, He communicates with His shepherds. Yes He can communicate with us all, but we all need a Pastor/Shepherd. Why?
Matthew 9:36 KJV But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 ISV When he saw the crowds, he was deeply moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus said this about the people. They were faint, scattered, troubled and helpless. Why? Because they didn’t have a shepherd. We too can end up this way if we don’t have a Pastor in our lives.
This also means you need to be part of a flock. Jesus called us sheep and sheep are not meant to go it alone. Sheep are supposed to be in flocks. Hence the story of the one lost sheep.
Hebrews 10:25 EasyEnglish Some people have stopped going regularly to our Christian meetings, but we must not stop going there. Then we can help each other to be strong Christians. You should do this more and more, because the Lord’s great day is coming. You know that the Lord will return soon.
You see we must assemble together with those who are wanting to live for and serve God. We must be a flock and we must have a Shepherd.
Jeremiah 23:4 KJV And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
Exodus 32:11-14 KJV 11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. 14 And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Let’s go a little deeper
Genesis 4:2 KJV And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
It started with a shepherd and a worldly man. A worldly man that thought that he knew best. I could imagine what his thoughts were like: that’s too much, I don’t think that’s necessary, he’s no better than me.
It doesn’t stop here. Moses became a shepherd. It says in Psalm 77:20 KJV Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. God used Moses and Aaron as shepherds. But there were those who thought, you’re no better than any of the rest of us.
Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On rose up against them with 250 men and challenged their authority.
Numbers 16:3 ISV They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have appropriated too much for yourselves from the entire congregation, since all of them are holy, and the LORD is among them, too. Why do you exalt yourselves over the LORD’s assembly?”
This did not end well for Korah
Number 16:31-33+35 ISV 31 Just as he finished saying all these things, the ground under them split open. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, all their households, everyone who was affiliated with Korah, and all of their property. 33 So they and all that belonged to them descended alive to Sheol. Then the earth closed over them. That’s how they were annihilated from the assembly. 35. After this, fire came from the LORD and incinerated the 250 men who offered the incense.
You see in both of these instances there were those that they knew best. They didn’t think they needed a leader. After all they were just men like themselves. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12 KJV)
We know that Egypt is a type of the world in the Bible. We read in Genesis 46:34 KJV for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
The world does not like shepherds. They don’t like being led. They have the “nobody’s going to tell me what to do” attitude. Trust me this will not end well as we’ve seen. Luke 13:5 KJV …except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Please don’t be this way, but be humble and accept this.
James 3:13-18 NHEB 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.