The Shepherds in the Field

It was common for Israeli shepherds to lead their flocks out into the fields around the time of Passover and bring them back home before the first winter rain. During this time, shepherds would stay in the fields day and night to watch over their flocks. The Holy Spirit did not reveal Jesus’ birth date. The date December 25 was a popular festival for the god Mithras in Rome—a deity also known as Maitreya Bodhisattva in Buddhism. After Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire, many pagans flocked to the church and designated December 25 as Jesus’ birthday. However, Jesus’ birthday was not on that day.

One night in the fields near Bethlehem, an angel appeared to the shepherds and told them, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The shepherds “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,” and they “glorified and praised God.” However, the Bible does not record that the people of Bethlehem came to worship and exalt Christ because of their testimony.

At the time, “shepherds” had a very poor reputation. Their nomadic lifestyle made it impossible for them to strictly observe the Law, so they were considered unclean, ungodly, and unreliable. They were even forbidden from testifying in court (Talmud, Sanhedrin 25b). Consequently, not many people believed their testimony; they simply were “amazed.” Yet the angels gave this important message to these people from the very bottom of society, who were “not many of noble birth” and “not many of influence” (1 Corinthians 1:26). The reason is that God “chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

Edited and compiled based on the Chinese Union Version of the Bible and a comprehensive biblical interpretation.