A Shepherd tells his story

That was a night! I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was a cold night up on the hills, and a bit windy. Not really full on winter, but not a nice night to be sleeping under the stars. Even us Shepherds look forward to a nice warm bed you know, not that we get to sleep in one that often. There were five of us, or was it six, its a long time ago. Anyway there we were sitting together between a few rocks, trying to keep out of the wind, and keep a bit of warmth so that we could get some sleep. I'd just nodded off when someone switched a light on. There it was, this kind of person with wings, just sort of hanging there.

No don't look at me like that – its not one of them UFO stories – we don't have time to worry about them – this really happened – it did! There were five of us, or was it six, – we all saw it – the same thing – just there in the air – above our heads almost. It was glowing – not bright like the sun, so you couldn't look at it – more like a giant candle but the flame had no bright bit in the middle, but there was light all around too – not like the day time, cause it was still dark everywhere else.

Anyway we'd have all been behind the rocks, but we were in the middle of nowhere and the rocks were just about big enough to sleep against, not really big enough to hide us so we just kind of froze to the spot. Funny thing was the sheep didn't even notice, just kept grazing and bleating like normal.

Anyway we got our breath back and old Joseph said "That's an Angel that is".

"Do not be afraid" he (or should that be she, or it? - I don't know – not that it matters, so I'll keep saying 'he' cause it sounds right somehow.). So anyway "do not be afraid" he said. Talk about asking the impossible. We don't scare easy you know, we have to fight great big bears, and chase off wolves and all if we're gonna keep the sheep safe, but we'd never seen the like of that before and we didn't know what it wanted – he wanted. Probably us, not the sheep – they were still eating – its what they do best.

"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people" he said. Well it would have to be for everyone for us to get to hear about it. They don't tell us anything when we go down into town, in fact they do their level best to keep well clear of us. You'd think we were lepers sometimes, or thieves and murderers perhaps. So we don't find out what's going on, and were not allowed in the temple either, so we don't even get to hear the notices. One day they'll invent CNN, then there won't be any need for angels scaring the living daylights out of people.
But we do know enough, 'cause we're not stupid. We know the scriptures, we know all about angels and the different forms they take, we hear the stories of how God used to talk us Jews – they teach all the children all of those stories. That was hundreds of years ago, but we upset him somehow and he hasn't sent any of his messengers for getting on for 20 generations – that's a long time. So an angel now was something special – but there wasn't any time for us to decide which of us was the next prophet. God was speaking to us –all five, or was it six, its a long time ago. God was speaking to us – just us after all this time. Well that's how it looked, of course, he'd been speaking to lots of other people and doing lots of other things to, but we didn't know that then.

Alright I'll get to the news, cause I know you want to hear it.

"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign a to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

He spoke to us in Greek, but that didn't matter we all knew what it meant.

Messiah is here!

Here, now, in our lifetime,. My old granddad used to say that we'd had our last chance, that we failed God so often he'd given up on us. Well its true, we have failed God, more times than I can count, but he's never forgotten us. He made us see, and he chose us, and he loves us, and if my old granddad didn't give up on me I can't see how God could give up on us. Well, yes I can – cause we can be awful always fighting and killing and stealing.

Not us five, or was it six, its a long time ago. No we were best mates, and we didn't have anyone to fight or steal from anyway, no not us – just ... everybody!

Anyway Messiah here now, in our lifetime – difficult to believe, I didn't think I'd live to see it, even then, but we all knew the prophesies, we all knew what it meant.

Old Isaiah gave us the best ones, but he went on a bit, so I'll just give you the high lights:

"Therefore the LORD himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

then a bit further on he says

Isa 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born,to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

and Micah said

Mic 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Before we had a chance to move or even discuss what to do next the whole sky lights up – all sorts of creatures, wings, wheels and eyes everywhere, and all of them singing at the tops of their voices:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests”

That's all they sung – but not once or one at a time – seemed to go on for ages – not that I mind, I like a good concert as much as the next man, and these were perfectly in tune and perfectly in time – heavenly it was. Oh, yes, of course it WAS heavenly, that's the point. So who might God's favour rest on then? I tell you my theory on that later, if you've got time.

Then just as suddenly as it started they were gone. Just a few thousand stars in a dark sky and the sound of the sheep bleating in the gusts of wind.

The Messiah is here – now as a baby and just a short walk away, just down there somewhere at the bottom of those hills. And we're up here with a load of sheep. We must go and see God's son - all of us agreed. I had five sons you know, or was it six, its a long time ago.

We must pay our respects welcome him into the world. Suppose I should say welcome him into his world but it sounds strange even now. So the five of us or was it six, its a long time ago – well we had a bit of a discussion and reckoned that God would look after the sheep for one night, so off we went in search of the baby.

It wasn't so difficult finding the baby as we'd expected. Bethlehem is a very small place really. We were on the right side of town too, and there were lots of old women fussing around making sure he was OK. We could do with their help at lambing time, but they won't come up in the hills and get messy. Anyway we started off for Bethlehem, singing the angels song - “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to his favoured men” over and over. We must have seemed like a drunken mob of religious fanatics, but Messiah's here and we're on our way to actually see him – really in the flesh and all. We got shussed by the old women, but that didn't stop us singing. We didn't shut-up until we saw him, then all of us just knelt in front of him in awe.

This is God in person, wrapped in cloths and sleeping peacefully.

We listened to His mum Mary tell her story, more visits by angels, God had been busier than we could have imagined, and then they had the journey to Bethlehem to register in the census. The town was heaving with people – fuller than I've ever seen it. So its no surprise she ended up out in the back where the animals usually are. Joseph, Mary's soon to be husband was there too so we heard about angels. They were going to call the baby Jesus.

Then young Rubens said “so you still a virgin then?” and the look he got in reply said it all. Time for us to leave.

That's it! I'd forgotten about him – Rubens had only been with us a few day, and he'd put his foot in his mouth on every one of them.

The six of us – it definitely was six, got back to the sheep just after first light and had a quick count 'cause if there were any missing explaining why we were away from our jobs might have been a bit tricky. Anyway perhaps we are the ones who had Gods favour – cause they were all still there – every last one.

So there you have it – the story of the most remarkable night in my life, but the Messiah's story doesn't end there.

After about thirty winters more of sheep, I heard of this bloke called Jesus of Nazareth, people said he was a prophet from God. How he got from Bethlehem to Nazareth I haven't a clue, but it was definitely him. I never met him as a man, only as a baby. He's certainly had power though – healing some people and feeding others. His teaching and story telling amazed lots of people. People love a good prophet, specially when he's on their side. Trouble is that prophets never really are on their side, cause everyone's mostly just on his own side, so sooner or later the prophet is saying things you don't want to hear. They say he said 'no more divorce' – and upset a lot of people. They say he said the Romans could keep their currency for themselves and us Jews aren't to use it, but you can't live like that. He was clever though and a lot of those priests in the temple didn't like the things he was saying and couldn't get him to shut up. So I suppose it had to happen eventually - they found a way to get the Romans to crucify him. Horrible way to go that – treating people worse than sheep. One thing you can say for the Romans – they're good at suffering and death. Our law says that anyone who is hung on a tree is cursed by God and that's how He ended his days amongst us – cursed by God because of all of us they say. And for all of you as well. 'cause that's what God's son does: He put the worlds to right. Not like us six in the inn after a hard nights shepherding – properly. Means we can be friends with God like Adam was.

And to prove it God brought him back to life. There's loads of people around who saw him on the cross, and loads who've seen him since, and He's got a bigger following in Jerusalem now than he ever had before his death.

Now have you got a minute or two, or are you dashing off somewhere? Thought you might like to hear my theory on who has Gods favour?

Alright then, as you haven't moved. It's simple really almost obvious when you think about it, and we get plenty of time for that. Most of the time there's not a lot to do on the hills. So long as you keep your wits about you. Some people write songs, others sit and think, some just idle their time away.

Oh sorry, yes, I was telling you my theory wasn't I – well I reckon God's favour is on anyone who takes him seriously, anyone who worships in the temple regularly, and really tries to keep all the law, but more than that anyone who cares for God people, and make sure they are treated right. Like David, I suppose – he made a few mistakes, but God really loved him – you could see it. Now, of course there's Jesus, so I don't have to worry about not being allowed in the temple until I've gone through the purification rituals and spent days away from the sheep. I can worship him any time, anywhere.

Yes that night really changed things for us shepherds, and for everyone else too I suppose.