Time flows like a river, and generations pass in the blink of an eye. Once again, the eagerly awaited Christmas season is once again upon us. The Scriptures tell of a group of unnamed shepherds in the field of Bethlehem who witnessed the most extraordinary event of their lives -- the birth of Jesus Christ. Despite their low social status, these shepherds were the first to hear the angels’ proclamation and to worship the newborn Savior. This illustrates God’s grace and love come for all humanity.
Photo by Martin Schmidli on Unsplash
The birth of Jesus transformed these humble shepherds from unknown figures into central characters of the Christmas story. Though their names are not recorded in the Bible, their love for God and their role as the first witnesses of Christ’s birth have been preserved through history, inspiring generations of Christians to pursue their faith with unity and passion.
But why did the angels choose to share this joyous news with these shepherds instead of religious leaders like the Pharisees, priests, or scribes? Who were these shepherds, and what made them so special?
They Were Diligent and Courageous
In ancient Israel, shepherding was often looked down upon. The demanding nature of the work made it difficult for shepherds to adhere strictly to religious rituals, such as ceremonial handwashing, so they were often considered ritually unclean. Additionally, their prolonged absences from the temple led to disdain from the Orthodox elite. Yet ironically, the sheep they tended—especially in Bethlehem, so close to Jerusalem—were likely destined for temple sacrifices.
Despite societal disdain, these shepherds were diligent and courageous. It was in the midst of their hard work that they first heard the angels' message of great joy.
Diligence and courage have been esteemed virtues in Chinese culture since ancient times. As the Shang Shu says, “Be diligent in serving the country and frugal in managing your household.” Similarly, the Bible teaches, “My Father is always working, and so am I” (John 5:17). Christians are called to work diligently in all aspects of life—whether in their professions or in spiritual practices like reading the Bible, praying, worshiping, and serving. As Proverbs 6:6-8 reminds us, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise. Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”
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