Familiarity with the story of Jesus’ birth may lull us to sleep. One of the surprises of this Advent season was the Choral Anthem the Shepherd’s Lamb sung by our Tallowood choir and orchestra under the leadership of our own Carlos Ichter. This evocative setting of Susan Boersma’s poem made me think in fresh ways about Christmas. One stanza says,
“The first news of this glorious birth
was told to those of little worth,
who left their flocks,
as angels said,
to find the Lamb of God in manger bed.”
The Shepherds were indeed a marginalized group in Jesus’ day. Although God had often chosen shepherds as leaders (remember Moses, David, and Amos), by the time of Christ’s birth, they were thought to be of little worth. Why did God choose them to be first recipients of the good news? They were doing their job. God’s next plan for us so often comes when we are faithfully fulfilling God’s revealed will. Moses was watching flocks when he saw the burning bush. God comes to those who are faithfully fulfilling their work.
Once again, the angel’s appearance frightened the observers. Again, the angel told them not to be afraid. Why not? If we saw an angel, I am certain we would be afraid. But we have no need to fear God’s good news which brings great joy for all people. Shepherds were included to remind us that Jesus is available to all people, even us. Still more important than our work is the Worthy One, whose birth calls us to leave all in order to see and serve him.
The greater question for me at the end of this Advent season is not “why the Shepherds” but why me? Boersma’s poem explains:
The shepherds paused at stable door,
looked on the Lamb and in Him saw
their own Good Shepherd, born a Lamb,
themselves the flock within the Shepherd’s hand.
With shepherds’ gaze in wonder on
the mystery of Heaven’s plan:
The Shepherd, born to live with us,
is born to die for us, the shepherds’ Lamb.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd was born as a lamb. On Facebook, I saw that members of our church left the Christmas Eve service and went to see a lamb at the Spring Branch FFA barn. Shepherds know lambs when they see them. But who could have guessed that the Shepherds would become sheep in the hand of this child? Our Shepherd, born to live with us is born to die for us. He is the shepherd’s Lamb. John introduced his cousin Jesus with the same description, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Christ’s arrival for us was not based upon our worth, but his. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain . . .” Before Jesus can be our Shepherd, he must first be our Lamb. In heaven he is at the center of the throne. Is he the center of our lives today?
