Shepherds. Priests. Two people who had the most to lose with regards to the unblemished lambs.
Shepherds watched their flocks day and night. It was during the night these particular unblemished lambs were most vulnerable because the risk of them being stolen was very real. I find it ironic that someone who felt they could steal an unblemished lamb would turn around and give it to the priest for a sacrifice for his family. But, that’s exactly what happened. So, a shepherd watching the lambs near to Jerusalem would’ve been more of a body guard instead of the gentle, poor, uneducated people we see in most artwork, Christmas cards or Sunday school materials. Shepherds were certainly rugged, in general. But, the closer you get to the Jerusalem Temple, the more sophisticated and complex things seem to become.
The priests had their important role to play with regards to the unblemished lamb. These guys were the last person to handle them alive. An unblemished lamb would be an expensive commodity few Jews could expect to purchase in their lifetime. Sheep herdsmen know that this particular type of lamb is bred and raised for a single purpose—to die as a sacrifice for the people. Many families saved money for their entire lives in order to make their single trek to the Jerusalem Temple to purchase and offer the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb.
Out of all the sacrificial services in the Torah, none is so well known and so often remembered as the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. (Exodus 12:5)
The Passover Lamb was the first sacrifice that Israel, as a nation, was commanded to make. (Exodus 12) Juxtaposed against the salvation drama unfolding in the Exodus narrative, the Passover sacrifice struck an indelible impression on the hearts of the people. In this story, the stakes were sky high. Death was coming to the land of Egypt. Even the Israelites will not be spared as the LORD arrived to strike the firstborn of human and animal. It is a judgment from heaven, a terror in the night. Merits of innocence and guilt were not considered. Faith and creed became irrelevant. The righteous perished with the wicked. Previous plagues had shown particularity, sparing the Jews in the midst of Egypt. But, the tenth plague, however, was completely impartial. Just as in life itself, death knows no boundaries, the tenth plague would strike Egyptian and Jew alike.
Only those who are within homes marked by the blood of a lamb will be spared. (Exodus 12:7-14)
I thought about how a shepherd would rise to the important position of night watch. It would’ve been a prestigious position with great pay. These lambs were within a short walk of the temple and cared for specifically. The comparison can be made to how baby calves are cared for in our modern day to provide veal for dinner tables. These lambs were set apart from birth, cared for by the very best and most competent shepherds and then lead to slaughter to fulfill their precise calling—to take away the sins of the people.
A second annunciation took place.
The first annunciation from God occurred when an angel appeared to Mary. (Luke 1:26-38) A second annunciation occurred when an angel appeared to the shepherds and the glory of the Lord shone around them—and they were terrified. (Luke 2:8-9) It is my calculation that the Shekinah Glory which arrived at the Jerusalem Temple during Solomon’s time, left shortly after Solomon’s death. (see 1 Kings 11-15) For one thousand years God’s glory was absent. His presence was intermittent and purposefully secluded because of the deep pain of God and the sins of the people. A crisis arrived when the Shekinah arrived—not because God is mad but the great awareness occurred that in the presence of God….we are unholy. When God's holiness arrived, humanity’s unholiness was revealed to the shepherd body guards and why the darkness hides us. Imagine how you may receive the message the angel delivered to those shepherd body guards. Consider their investment and how they had most likely worked their way up the ladder of success to a position of power and authority. If they left their post and their supervisors discovered this news, they would certainly have been fired from their position and shamefully remembered as those who left their position. Their families would’ve been ruined.
What could inspire or persuade anyone to leave their position of power and authority to search and seek for God’s truth and presence?
Come Sunday, we will talk more about the shepherds and priests. Maybe even you could be persuaded to leave all you have and follow Him.
“They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. Luke 2:15-18 MSG
Pastor Jen