The Old Shepherd

Well, it's been a while since I posted here. Things have been a little hectic, but I am catching up a little, so thought I would share something for Christmas. Hope you enjoy it.

The Old Shepherd

 

He stands there alone, lost in the crowd, an old man, weathered, ragged, staff in hand.

He lowers his eyes, unable to look at the horrible scene before him. He stares at the dust.

Amidst the shouts and jeers, his mind wanders back to another place, another time.

Happier days, youthful days spent in the Judean hills with his father’s flocks.

His mind takes him back. He feels the warmth of the fire. He smells the sheep.

He hears the low voices of his fellows, murmurs and jokes mixed with snores.

Then the light! That terrible light! And the voice came with it. Not an earthly voice.

The angel came upon them, out of nowhere, out of the night. Night turned to day.

They were stricken, frozen with fear. Quaking, gaping, tongues cleaving.

What dreadful, terrible beauty… radiant, aching beauty! A strange and wonderful smell!

Then the words came, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy!”

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Suddenly we were surrounded. They were all around us. A host of angels.

All praising God! All praising! We felt them like a rising tide, roaring, booming.

And then the night was silent again, all around. The night was ours again.

What was it that the angel had said? Did you hear it too?

A Savior, the Messiah, in Bethlehem. Bethlehem of all places! What should we do?

So we went. We left our sheep and we went. We went searching for our Savior, our King.

We found him. We found this little King. Not much of a place for a King.

Not a very good neighborhood. Not much comfort for a mother and child.

We huddled in the doorway. They seemed to expect our coming.

We didn’t dare touch him. Just gazed at his little face.

Weathered hands gently touching the manger, his cradle. Testing the reality. He is born!

Smelled a familiar smell. That same strange and wonderful smell!

Were there angels here too? Were they watching over the little King?

We left shouting at the top of our lungs, stopping every stranger we met on the street.

He is born! He is born! Our savior is born! The Messiah. The Christ. Here in Bethlehem!

People think we’re crazy, or drunk. Go home you drunken shepherds!

Go tend your sheep. You’re filthy. You don’t belong here. Vagrants! Call the sheriff.

Some listened of course. Not all are blind. Some searched scriptures. Some believed.

Some just took note. Someone decided that they should notify the authorities.

And so we left the streets of Bethlehem and returned to our flocks.

But we did not forget our little King. He became a man, strong and wise and kind.

He taught in Nazareth, across Galilee and Judea and even here in Jerusalem.

He taught of the coming of his Kingdom, and it is said that he healed.

It is said that he could heal the sick, the lame, the blind. They say he calmed the seas.

It is said that he had authority over the demons that possess people.

It is even said that he raised a boy from the dead. Raised from the dead.

I don’t know. I just heard about it. But I heard from many. I heard from some that I trust.

And now he is here. Hanging here. Crucified. They have crucified him!

They have crucified my King! If he is the Saviour, why couldn’t he save himself?

How can he save us now? He is dead. They have killed him.

To whom do we turn for redemption now? How long must we wait?

________________________________________________________________________

 

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Ezekiel 34:12

And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Ezekiel 34:23

And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 34:31

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:6-7

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 1:36

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:12

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

1Peter 5:4

For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even forever.

Isaiah 9:6-7

 

Post Script

Three days later, the tears of the old shepherd were wiped away by his risen Saviour.

 The risen Christ appeared to over 500 people. Who knows, maybe among them was one grieving old shepherd from Bethlehem.

He came for us. He died for us, and He is Risen! He is Risen!

Merry Christmas.