Chronologically speaking, many Biblical years and stories stand between the Creation of the Garden of Eden and the Birth of Jesus. But within a few words, after Jesus was born, several things happened that deserve special mentioning. That is one good thing about celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas:
Let’s look at the stories as they unfold in the Biblical Book of Luke:
The First Day of Christmas is Christmas Day.
Christ Born of Mary
2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed [a]wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a [b]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7
As soon as that part of the story is told, we read about the shepherds
The Shepherd’s Story
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2: 8
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Shepherds were significant in the Bible–both figuratively and literally.
THE SHEEP in the Bible
“Importance of Sheep in the Bible—The Sheep the chief wealth of the pastoral tribes—Arab shepherds of the present day—Wanderings of the flocks in search of food—Value of the wells—How the Sheep are watered—The shepherd usually a part owner of the flocks—Structure of the sheepfolds—The rock caverns of Palestine—David’s adventure with Saul—Use of the dogs—The broad-tailed Sheep, and its peculiarities. . . .
“There is, perhaps, no animal which occupies a larger space in the Scriptures than the Sheep. Whether in religious, civil, or[177] domestic life, we find that the Sheep is bound up with the Jewish nation in a way that would seem almost incomprehensible, did we not recall the light which the New Testament throws upon the Old, and the many allusions to the coming Messiah under the figure of the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world.
Sheep were a necessary part of life during Biblical times, Thus, the shepherd was also essential.
No doubt, one of the most famous Biblical references is in the Book of Psalms:
The Lord the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not [a]want.
2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;
He leads me beside the [c]still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23: 1-4
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Only one verse of the Christmas story in Luke is allocated to the Shepherds, but their story is of immense importance both during the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament.
Jesus the Good Shepherd
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. …
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a [b]hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:7-16
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