In many religious traditions, the birth of a Divine King is attended by wondrous signs from heaven. The same is true of the nativity stories of Jesus. But in the Gospel of Luke, the announcement of Christ’s birth is not delivered first to kings, priests, or anyone of importance, but to nameless shepherds in the countryside outside Bethlehem.  

While the image of the shepherd in Hebrew Scripture carries a dignified status, actual shepherds in the time of Jesus were among the poor and marginal class of people—what one scholar has called “the expendables.” Nevertheless, these shepherds are greeted by an angel who proclaims, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” As a sign, they are told to look for an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger— a feed trough for animals. Following these instructions, the shepherds find Jesus and his parents, just as they had been told. And then they “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”  

In future years this child would be called many things— Good Shepherd, as well as Lamb of God. His identity would be announced to important people, who would torture and kill him. But in the beginning, it was to certain poor shepherds, tired from keeping watch, rank with the smell of their sheep, that the Gospel of great joy was first revealed.  

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”  

—Luke 2:20