The Shepherds and the birth of Jesus.
Luke 2:1-20
When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him while he was baptising, he exclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, KJV).
Before we look at the famous statement by John the Baptist upon seeing Jesus, it is helpful to first review the problem of sin, which relates to the statement of John and gives us a better understanding of the context.
The Bible teaches us that mankind has a sin problem. Sin is violation of God’s Word, a rebellion against God. Sin came into the world through Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, as presented in the early chapters of Genesis. God had His plan of redemption, first through the animal sacrifice and finally through Jesus, which He had established from the very foundations of the world (Romans 5:12–21; 1 Peter 1:18–20; Revelation 13:8; John 1:29).
The need for a substitutionary sacrifice and shedding of innocent blood to atone for sin is well established in Scripture, beginning in Genesis 3:21, where God made use of animal skins to cover the nakedness and shame of Adam and Eve following their disobedience. A blood sacrifice is required by God, as presented in Leviticus:
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11).
God’s plan of redemption is further seen in the account of Abraham’s willingness to offer his son, Isaac, on an altar at God’s command (Genesis 22). Abraham’s hand was stayed, and God provided a substitute sacrifice, just as He would provide in His Son, Jesus.
This background of the problem of sin and God’s remedy through the sacrifice of His one and only son, Jesus.
Now coming to John 1:29, John sees Jesus coming and he draws the attention of those around him to Christ. He says, behold, or look, the Lamb of God. What does this mean? This is something that would have been very familiar to the Jewish people, the idea of a sacrificial lamb.
They knew all about Abraham and Isaac and about the lamb that Abraham was sure God would provide for the sacrifice. There was also the Passover that was sacrificed and it’s blood would be shed and sprinkled on the door posts. The sacrifice of a lamb was also familiar to them because twice every day, morning and evening in the temple, for the burnt offering for sin, the lamb was slain. Jewish people also knew about Isaiah’s prophesy in Isaiah 53:7 of a lamb that would be led to slaughter.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
Throughout Israel’s history, God, over and over again made it clear that sin and separation from Him could be removed only by blood sacrifices and that the lamb used for sacrifice had to be spotless, it had to be perfect. Listen to this passage from Leviticus 4:32-35 that describes this.
32 “If he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish 33 and lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. 35 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the Lord’s food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.
So here’s John’s testimony, behold, look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! And note this that he didn’t says “sins” he said “sin Jesus Christ is the spotless lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And when John says sin of the world, he’s pointing to the fact that forgiveness of sins isn’t only for the Jews. This isn’t for the Jewish race only, it’s for all human beings in general, but note that it’s not for all human beings without exception.
How is that true? It’s true because your sins are forgiven only if you believe in Jesus Christ.
Here’s the point. Sin is a worldwide problem, all of mankind needs to be forgiven their sin, and for those who find the narrow gate, worldwide, without distinction between race or nationality or ethnicity, for those who believe in Jesus Christ, their sins are forgiven because of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. That’s what John’s statement is about and that went counter to what the Jewish people were thinking because they were looking for their Messiah to be a king who would come and deliver them from the political power at that time and set up his kingdom. But Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
This offers us a better understanding of John the Baptist’s statement upon seeing Jesus approaching, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus is the perfect lamb sacrifice, which God provided to pay for the sin debt of mankind. He is, indeed, “the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” Listen — Jesus, the Lamb of God is the final sacrifice.
The lambs sacrificed daily in the Temple ceremonies – as well as the lamb sacrificed annually for the nation’s sins at Passover in the Temple – were but a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the perfect sacrifice of God. This sacrifice was meant to be sufficient to atone for the sin-debt of all mankind. John the Baptist likened Jesus to those lambs carefully chosen for sacrifice in the Temple.
Clearly the city of Jesus’ birth was Bethlehem as Micah 5:2 prophesied and as the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John confirm. (Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:4, 15; John 7:42) Luke proclaims the birth place as Bethlehem, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” 1 Samuel 17:15, confirms Bethlehem as the City of David, “But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.” But where in Bethlehem was Jesus born? The fact is that the New Testament does not mention the exact place in Bethlehem of where Jesus was born. Nowhere does the Bible record that Jesus was born in stable attended by donkeys, chickens, and cows as many nativity scenes present. It was often speculated that because there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the Inn, and that he was born in the stable behind the inn where the animals were kept. This conjecture is false and is a good example that shows us we should not apply speculation to God’s word. All the New Testament specifically says is that Jesus was laid in a manger in Bethlehem
Although the New Testament does not tell us where in Bethlehem Jesus was born, the Old Testament does. Micah 4:8 states, "And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." Thus the Old Testament clearly states that the Messiah would be born at the "tower of the flock"
The phrase "tower of the flock" is the Hebrew phrase "Migdal Edar" and means a "watch tower of the flock". In ancient times this was a military tower erected to view into the valley on the edge of Bethlehem to protect the city. Several of these military towers are recorded in the Old Testament (See Judges 8:71, 9:46, 9:51; 2 Kings 9:17, 18:8; Nehemiah 3:1) The tower at Bethlehem is first mentioned in Genesis 35:21, "And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. After Jacob left Bethel he came to Edar (the tower) and there Rachel began hard labor and as she delivered Benjamin she died and was buried there in Ephratah which is Bethlehem" (Gen. 35:19). After burying Rachel, Jacob moved his flocks beyond the tower of Edar. This would pinpoint the location as being near to what is present day Bethlehem. Clearly, this establishes that Migdal Edar, "the tower of the flock" was close to Bethlehem in Bible times. More on this later.
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in the manger because there was no place for them in the inn.
"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of God appeared to them, and the glory of God shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, 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 Jesus the Saviour. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in the manger. ' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!'
"When the angels went away from them, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." Luke 2:1-20
One of the most powerful statements in the biblical narratives on the birth of Christ is this proclamation made by the angel to shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem.
It was a first declaration of the Good News of the redemptive Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is remarkable to see that this first declaration made to Israelites outside the immediate family of Jesus was not given to the religious or political rulers of Israel but to shepherds keeping their flocks.
What does this all mean for us?
1) First, it is always beneficial for the Church to see that Jesus did not arrive into a vacuum, but was born into an entirely Jewish context. When Christ came in the flesh, he was born first-and-foremost to the Jewish people but would then also bring his favour and good pleasure to all men. Even though the celebration of Christ’s birth has become a feast marked almost exclusively by the gentile Church, it is important for us to see it in its historic and biblical context – as a message intended to give hope to Israel. As Zachariah prophesies at the birth of John the Baptist, this all happened to “perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham…” (Luke 1:72f).
2) Second, already from the moment Jesus entered the world the ultimate reason for his arrival was alluded to. These were the shepherds who took care of the sheep and cattle offered in the Temple – in particular the Passover sacrifices. And it was they who were confronted with the announcement that the ultimate sacrifice, which would carry away not only the sins of Israel but of the whole world, was born. Just thirty three years later, no further sacrifice was to be needed, as all those who believe in him have been “sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
3) The angelic announcement gave these priest/ shepherds a profound revelation of who this Messiah would be. He was proclaimed to be both King (born in the city of David) and Priest. That he was both Christ and Lord, the son of man but also the son of God. He would be the saviour of humanity but also the shepherd of all those who would follow his voice.
It was truly good news which the angels proclaimed that night long ago. But as with the shepherds, the mere knowledge of this news is not enough. They needed to act upon it and they did. They went personally to see that child and then proclaimed his birth wherever they could.
Two matters we must concentrate on:
(a) How did the shepherds know where the "manger" was when there was no specific directions to get there.
(b) How did the baby wrapped in " swaddling cloths and lying in the manger" become a "sign" to them.
The image of the shepherds in Luke 2 as society’s “marginalized outcasts” might make for good preaching, but is it based on solid interpretation? Alfred Edersheim, a nineteenth-century Jewish scholar and convert to Christianity, wrote his monumental book, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, in 1883. He offered a provocative observation on the identity of the shepherds.
" As we pass from the sacred gloom of the cave out into the night, its sky all aglow with starry brightness, its loneliness is peopled, and its silence made vocal from heaven. There is nothing now to conceal, but much to reveal, though the manner of it would seem strangely incongruous to Jewish thinking. And yet Jewish tradition may here prove both illustrative and helpful. That the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem was a settled conviction - Mic. 5:2. Equally so was the belief, that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, “the tower of the flock” Mic. 4:8 .
This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem. A passage in the Mishnah leads to the conclusion, that the flocks which pastured there were destined for Temple sacrifices and, accordingly, that the shepherds who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds. . The same Mishnaic passage also leads us to infer that these flocks lay out all the year round, since they are spoken of as in the fields thirty days before the Passover—that is, in the month of February, when in Palestine the average rainfall is nearly greatest. Thus Jewish tradition in some dim manner apprehended the first revelation of the Messiah from that Migdal Eder, where shepherds watched the Temple flocks all the year round " (Alfred Edersheim -The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Book 2 chapter 6 - 186–87) -( Mishnah - The Mishnah was the first recording of the oral law and Rabbinic Judaism. The word in Hebrew means “repetition,” which means that it was memorized material. It is the major source of the rabbinic teachings of Judaism. After the Scriptures, the Mishnah is regarded as the basic textbook of Jewish life and thought and is traditionally considered to be an integral part of the Torah, as revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.)
Migdal Eder—the “tower of the flock”—was first mentioned in Genesis 35. “So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). And Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder” (Genesis 35:19–21). In the context the “tower of Eder” or “tower of the flock” was located near Bethlehem.
About a thousand years after Rachel’s death the prophet Micah spoke about the still future birth of Israel’s Messiah. Everyone knows the prediction that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2), but few look at the larger context. Micah also predicted the reappearance of God’s kingdom at Migdal Eder—the tower of the flock. “And as for you, tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come—even the former dominion will come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem” (Mic. 4:8).
Edersheim argues that the flocks kept at Migdal Eder were destined for temple sacrifice. The shepherds keeping watch over these sheep knew the purpose for the lambs under their care. And their job was to keep the animals under them from becoming injured or blemished. It was to those watching over animals destined for temple sacrifice that the angels announced Jesus’ birth. “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
The arrival of the ultimate Lamb of God was revealed to those responsible for watching over the sacrificial lambs that had always pointed toward Him.
Alfred Edersheim goes on to say:
"At the time of the birth of Jesus, Migdal Eder was a specific place. It was the location where shepherds brought their sheep. The sheep were to be sacrificed at the Temple. These were not just any flock and herd. The shepherds who kept them were men who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what an animal that was to be sacrificed had to be and it was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged or blemished. During lambing season the sheep were brought to the tower from the fields, as the lower level functioned as the birthing room for sacrificial lambs. Being themselves under special rabbinical care, these priests would strictly maintain a ceremonially clean birthing place. Once birthed, the priestly shepherds would routinely place the lambs in the hewn depression of a limestone rock known as “the manger” and “wrap the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes,” preventing them from thrashing about and harming themselves “until they had calmed down” so they could be inspected for the quality of being “without spot or blemish”.
The swaddling bands held the lambs for inspection to insure they met the standard set forth in the law - Numbers 28:3, Exodus 12:1-6. The lambs were restrained to keep them from harming themselves and disqualifying them from sacrifice. Lambs had to be without blemish.
Luke's original audience would have immediately picked up on the religious significance of the Bethlehem shepherds watching their flocks by night. Aware of the Old Testament prophesies and the Jewish Temple worship of the day, they would have known that when you said Bethlehem - you said "sacrificial lambs". The hills around Bethlehem were home to the thousands of lambs used in ritual worship in the Temple. As a boy from Bethlehem, King David would likely have tended sheep destined for the daily offerings.
Coming back to our story in Luke 2 - on the night in which Jesus was born, the angelic message came to those priests/shepherds of the Temple whose duties had been designated, often from their youth, to "keeping watch over their flock."
There was no need for the angels to give these shepherds directions to the birth place because they already knew. These were the men who raised sacrificial lambs for the Temple. When the angelic announcement came, they knew exactly where to go, as Luke 2 indicates, for the sign of the " swaddling bands and the manger" could only mean the manger at the base of the Tower of the Flock, as it is found in the original Greek wording of Luke 2:7,12 and 16.
(Alfred Edersheim, the Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, chapter VI).
Today, the exact location of Migdal Eder is speculation.
Luke 2:7 - 12 says - She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. The account of the birth of Jesus in Luke includes the terms “manger” and “swaddling clothes.” What specifically are these referring to? And why are these items a “sign”, given to the shepherds by the angel as they tended their flocks in the field?
The Greek word which is translated “manger” in our English Bibles is Yatnh phat-ne. It is defined as a “stall” where animals are kept, and in Luke 13:15 it is translated that way. In Proverbs 14:4, in the Septuagint [Greek translation of the Old Testament], the word means a “stall” or a “crib.” What, then, was the “stall” or “manger” referred to in the New Testament; and what kind of animals were fed or housed there?
Is there a “logical” place where God would choose to have His Son born, one which would be described by the angel to the shepherds in the country as being “. . . a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger?” To be a “sign,” it would have to be distinctive, understandable, and unique.
Where would they go - since there were no directions provided?
The shepherds did not need guidance. Migdal Eder was a destination. Any shepherd in the area knew the exact location. Directions were not necessary.
Luke 2:15 : When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
Luke 2:16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
Here’s the theory in summary.
There was place just outside of Bethlehem city, but still within the region commonly known as Bethlehem, where Passover lambs were kept by specially trained and purified priests/shepherds. The lambs were born in this “tower of the flock” known as Migdal Eder under the watchful eye of the shepherds who would then inspect and either certify them for use as sacrifices in the temple or designate them to be released for common use. The new lambs would even be wrapped in special swaddling clothes once certified to ensure that they remain without blemish. Once the lamb had settled down from the birthing process, the shepherd would remove the swathing materials and deliver the lamb to its mother. The lamb would receive special care from the shepherd/priests because this lamb would be sacrificed for the sins of the people.
Every event in Jesus' life pointed toward His prophesied death. On the night of His birth, an angel appeared to the shepherds who were out in the fields, "keeping watch over their flock by night" and instructed them: "you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger" (Luke 2, above). The shepherds immediately responded, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us" (v. 15).
Here’s what I find fascinating about this theory.
First, it places Jesus’ birth in the traditional location for Passover lambs to be born. As, He is the Passover Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world.
Second, it explains how the shepherds knew where to go to find the newborn babe — and why it being wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger would be a sign to them. To be a sign the description must be unique.
Third, it explains why those shepherds were notified. It was their holy calling to certify Passover lambs upon birth. Jesus, the Lamb of God, as identified by John the Baptist, was born in the same location as sacrificial lambs for the Temple. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloth like a sacrificial lamb for inspection.
And Finally, Jesus was born in the “tower of the flock”, Migdal Eder, -Micah 4:8 , surrounded by shepherds, set apart to certify the birth of the ultimate Passover Lamb.
The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah (1883; Latest Edition, 1993), Alfred Edersheim (1825 – 1889),
