Shepherds Represent Us

Every manger scene has some shepherds.  They were the first visitors invited to come and see Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us, our Savior.  They are our representatives at the stable.

The shepherds in our mangers appear to be docile and kindly, with at least one of them always carrying a lamb on his shoulders. So we see the shepherds in a positive light. 

But shepherds were seen in a less flattering way during Jesus’ time. They had reputations as rowdy characters who caused a stir when they came to town. They were also thought to dishonest. Local people hid their valuables when the shepherds were around.     

And religious leaders saw them as sinners.  They rarely entered synagogues or the Temple. To be fair, shepherds’ lives didn’t allow much time for religious activity. And it seems that their work left them ‘unclean’ for worship without ritual cleansing. 

So why were the shepherds picked to be the first visitors at the manger? 

Precisely because they were sinners…just like you and me. C. S. Lewis says that “Christmas has no message for people who think they have no sin.  The true message of Christmas comes across when we admit that we are sinners and that we need a Savior.”