Who were the Shepherds?
Thinking about the Christmas story this year, I’ve really tried to not read the modern nativity concepts into the story as Luke presents it. In Luke’s account, right after Jesus is born, there is the third birth announcement. The first announcement was to Zechariah (Luke 1:5-25) and the second was to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). This third announcement is unique in that it did not come to a family member, rather to a group of shepherds living out in the field. In modern shows like The Chosen , they often portray the shepherds as a mangy bunch and despised of society. If this is so, it’s interesting to think how the New Testament runs with the “shepherd“ concept.
Luke 15:4 - Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and asks them what they would do if they lost a sheep.
Mark 6:34 - Jesus shows compassion to the crowd, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 18:12 - A similar statement to Luke 15:4, except Jesus’ audience is his disciples.
John 10 - Jesus tells an entire parable about the sheep, the Good Shepherd, and the pen.
1 Peter 2:25 - The reader is described as sheep without a shepherd, but now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer.
Hebrews 13:20 - God brought the Great Shepherd back from the dead.
Ephesians 4:11 - Some believers have the spiritual gift of shepherding (a.k.a, pastoring).
None of these passages in the New Testament portray the role of shepherd in a negative light. Jesus is referred to as the Good Shepherd. The role of “pastor” is the same Greek word for shepherd (ποιμένας). Since the New Testament doesn’t portray the shepherd role as a despised position, I wonder why I should read Luke’s story in that way. Maybe there is a different emphasis than to say that the announcement went to the downtrodden of society.
If there is one thing in common between the three birth announcements, I would say it relates to the reception of the message. Zechariah doubted the message, but then believed. Mary humbly accepted the message and composed her song. I think God picked the shepherds because they humbly accepted the Word and left everything behind to then become the messengers of what they had seen and heard (Luke 2:20). Did that have to do with their social standing in society? I don’t know for sure, but I know the New Testament doesn’t portray the shepherds in that way.
There will be many movies, videos, films, and books written about the incarnation story. Those are just secondary sources. Go back to the original source. Make sure you don’t lose sight of how God inspired Matthew & Luke to compose the story. Listen to the Word, humbly accept it, and then tell others about it.
-Daniel Jensen
Director of Camp Ministries
Lakeside Bible Camp
