WEBVTT - The Shepherds

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<v Speaker 1>Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of

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<v Speaker 1>great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2.10

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<v Speaker 1>Heavenly Father, we thank you for the lessons we learn

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<v Speaker 1>from the shepherds' encounter with the angels. May we embrace humility,

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<v Speaker 1>rejoice in your redemption, and engage in heartfelt worship this

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<v Speaker 1>Christmas season. Help us to spread the good tidings of

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<v Speaker 1>great joy to those around us, reflecting your love and grace.

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<v Speaker 2>Amen.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now

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<v Speaker 1>for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.

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<v Speaker 2>Joseph wrapped him in his arms and wiped him with

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<v Speaker 2>woven wool. He stared into the child's eyes. There was

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<v Speaker 2>nothing different about him. There were no lights radiating from

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<v Speaker 2>his eyes or humming of heavenly hosts behind him. He

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<v Speaker 2>was a baby, crying and taking in the newness of life.

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<v Speaker 2>But as Joseph cradled him in his arms, he knew

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<v Speaker 2>without a doubt this child was exceptional, chosen, blessed. All

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<v Speaker 2>the turmoil, danger and chaos he had to endure was

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<v Speaker 2>worth it. For the sake of this treasure he held

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<v Speaker 2>in his hands.

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<v Speaker 1>We already know his name.

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<v Speaker 2>He said to Mary. Mary reached for her son and

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<v Speaker 2>cradled him in her arms. She stroked his face.

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<v Speaker 1>His name will be Jesus, she whispered.

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<v Speaker 2>The Lord saves. Mary pressed Jesus against her chest and

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<v Speaker 2>cried joyfully. He was the fulfillment of God's promise to humanity.

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<v Speaker 2>The good shepherd of Israel, the savior of the world.

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<v Speaker 3>Hello everyone, and welcome to another Christmas episode of the

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<v Speaker 3>Jesus Podcast. I'm Ethan from Pray.com. Thank you for joining

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<v Speaker 3>me for this joyous celebration of Christ's birth. Today, we

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<v Speaker 3>visit the hill country of Bethlehem under a starlit sky.

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<v Speaker 3>We'll meet three shepherds whose lives are about to be

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<v Speaker 3>changed forever. These lowly shepherds, existing on the fringes of society,

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<v Speaker 3>are about to be visited by a divine chorus of

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<v Speaker 3>heavenly messengers. Their message is a resounding song of joy, peace,

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<v Speaker 3>and salvation. Why would God choose to visit shepherds of

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<v Speaker 3>all people to be the first to behold Him? In

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<v Speaker 3>biblical times, shepherds were often considered to be on the

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<v Speaker 3>lower rungs of the social ladder. Their work was humble, demanding,

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<v Speaker 3>and required they isolate for months at a time. As

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<v Speaker 3>a result, shepherds were considered awkward and untrustworthy. Yet, God

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<v Speaker 3>saw fit to choose them. God often refers to Himself

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<v Speaker 3>as a shepherd. This isn't because God considers Himself awkward

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<v Speaker 3>and untrustworthy. Rather, God calls Himself a shepherd because we

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<v Speaker 3>are like sheep. Think about sheep for a moment. They

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<v Speaker 3>have large bodies, small legs, and aren't very intelligent. All

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<v Speaker 3>those qualities make them fearful and anxious creatures, vulnerable to predators. Additionally,

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<v Speaker 3>sheep are one of the only animals unable to survive

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<v Speaker 3>in the wild without human care. They can't become feral,

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<v Speaker 3>meaning they'll perish without a shepherd to look after them. We,

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<v Speaker 3>like sheep, are skittish and vulnerable. That's why David called

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<v Speaker 3>God his shepherd, who restores his soul and protects him

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<v Speaker 3>from enemies. Scripture frequently uses the imagery of shepherds to

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<v Speaker 3>describe spiritual leadership. Moses was a shepherd before returning to

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<v Speaker 3>the people of Israel. King David was a shepherd before

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<v Speaker 3>becoming Israel's king. And Jesus refers to himself as the

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<v Speaker 3>good shepherd. The shepherd's inclusion in Christ's birth story underlines

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<v Speaker 3>the importance of spiritual guidance and reflects God's care for

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<v Speaker 3>his people. So let's join these shepherds now on the

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<v Speaker 3>rolling hills of Bethlehem. Imagine yourself lying back on a

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<v Speaker 3>grassy hill, gazing up at the vast universe above. You

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<v Speaker 3>hear the crackling of the fire behind you and the

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<v Speaker 3>occasional buzz of nearby sheep. This is where the shepherds

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<v Speaker 3>find themselves before an abrupt and glorious interruption.

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<v Speaker 2>In a valley not too far from the glimmering hills

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<v Speaker 2>of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds lay in the fields,

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<v Speaker 2>tending to their flocks. The night was alive with the

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<v Speaker 2>distant songs of crickets and the gentle rustle of tall

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<v Speaker 2>grass swaying to a soft breeze. The sheep had settled

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<v Speaker 2>for the night, their breathing gentle and rhythmic. Together, the

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<v Speaker 2>shepherds pointed out constellations, their fingers tracing the ancient patterns

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<v Speaker 2>in the sky as they told stories and shared laughter.

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<v Speaker 2>One of them, an older shepherd with eyes that held

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<v Speaker 2>the spark of countless sunrises, pointed to the sky. Look there,

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<v Speaker 2>he said, his voice like weathered wood.

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<v Speaker 1>Aquila, the eagle.

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<v Speaker 2>It flies high above our heads, never bound by Earth's hold.

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<v Speaker 2>I wish I could soar like an eagle, the younger

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<v Speaker 2>shepherd replied. The others chuckled at his boyish imagination. I

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<v Speaker 2>would travel to Egypt.

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<v Speaker 1>And behold the great relics of Pharaoh.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I will soar to Rome and have a look

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<v Speaker 2>at Caesar's great throne room. The three shepherds laughed together,

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<v Speaker 2>their eyes tracing the lines of constellations, finding in them

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<v Speaker 2>the stories of gods and heroes, love and loss. The

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<v Speaker 2>valley listened, a silent witness to their friendship. The life

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<v Speaker 2>of a shepherd was often lonely. For most of the year,

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<v Speaker 2>they existed as outcasts on the edge of the city.

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<v Speaker 2>They travelled the plains of the Judean wilderness, often alone

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<v Speaker 2>with their sheep. But at this moment, they had each other,

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<v Speaker 2>the stars, and shared stories beside a crackling fire. Their bodies,

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<v Speaker 2>wearied from the day's labour, began to succumb to sleep's

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<v Speaker 2>gentle pull. Their gazes, fixed on the boundless heaven's grew

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<v Speaker 2>soft as dreams beckoned. Then, without warning, a gust of wind,

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<v Speaker 2>sharp and cold, swept through the valley, stirring the shepherds

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<v Speaker 2>from their rest. The wind extinguished their fire with an

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<v Speaker 2>abrupt hiss, and they leaped to their feet. Darkness enveloped them.

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<v Speaker 2>What is happening? One of them said in a panicked voice. Then,

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<v Speaker 2>in an instant, a burst of light split the horizon

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<v Speaker 2>like a long, shimmering blade. It split and danced, reaching

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<v Speaker 2>out to them in a blinding embrace. Light poured out

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<v Speaker 2>like a rushing waterfall and surrounded the shepherds in a

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<v Speaker 2>myriad of beautiful colors. The shepherds heard an orchestra of

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<v Speaker 2>instruments and singing come from the light. It was a symphony,

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<v Speaker 2>pure and transcendent, as if they were listening to it

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<v Speaker 2>within their own souls. As if they were listening to

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<v Speaker 2>it within their own souls. Terror and awe came upon

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<v Speaker 2>the shepherds as they fell to the ground, their bodies trembling. Then,

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<v Speaker 2>from the light, a voice emerged.

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<v Speaker 1>Fear not.

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<v Speaker 2>The voice, clear and resonant, rang out from the light.

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<v Speaker 2>Its timber was filled with authority and gentleness, command and comfort.

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<v Speaker 2>We have come with good tidings of great joy. In

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<v Speaker 2>the town of Bethlehem lies a baby. His child is

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<v Speaker 2>the Messiah, the Lord, the Savior of the world and

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<v Speaker 2>redemption of mankind. The shepherds' eyes widened as the angel

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<v Speaker 2>and an entire choir of heavenly hosts emerged from the light.

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<v Speaker 2>They couldn't speak. for their minds struggled to even grasp

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<v Speaker 2>the magnitude of what was unfolding before them. The lights,

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<v Speaker 2>hues of bright orange, pink, and white, swirled around them

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<v Speaker 2>like a flock of ethereal doves, casting a warm glow

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<v Speaker 2>on their upturned faces. Go, therefore, and see for yourselves.

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<v Speaker 2>You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying

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<v Speaker 2>in a manger. The angel continued, his words infused with

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<v Speaker 2>an urgency that set their hearts aflame. As he spoke,

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<v Speaker 2>The choir of angels slowly rose their voices. The light

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<v Speaker 2>swirled to the rising and falling of their harmony. Finally,

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<v Speaker 2>the song crescendoed into a resonating song of praise. Then,

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<v Speaker 2>as suddenly as it had come, the light dissipated, leaving

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<v Speaker 2>the valley bathed in the soft glow of the stars

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<v Speaker 2>once more. The melodies of heaven were replaced by the

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<v Speaker 2>gentle whispers of the evening wind and a few chirping crickets.

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<v Speaker 2>The shepherds sat, stunned and silent. their minds reeling from

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<v Speaker 2>the vision they had just witnessed. The oldest shepherd turned

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<v Speaker 2>to his companions. Did we all just see that, or

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<v Speaker 2>is this old man finally loose in his mind? The

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<v Speaker 2>two others nodded their heads in confirmation that they had

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<v Speaker 2>all borne witness, still stunned by what they had seen. Slowly,

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<v Speaker 2>their eyes turned towards Bethlehem, where a few torchlights still

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<v Speaker 2>flickered in the distance. Resting above the city was a

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<v Speaker 2>new star, radiant and singular, Unlike any they had seen before,

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<v Speaker 2>the older shepherd turned to his young friend and laughed.

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<v Speaker 2>You may get to see royalty after all. They all

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<v Speaker 2>laughed with unexplainable joy. With a shared understanding, they rose,

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<v Speaker 2>leaving their belongings behind, their steps quickening as they ran

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<v Speaker 2>towards Bethlehem. Fear not, for behold, I bring you good

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<v Speaker 2>tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

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<v Speaker 2>This message of joy echoes throughout the New Testament.

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<v Speaker 3>As joy is a hallmark of those who have experienced

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<v Speaker 3>Christ's redemption. The good tidings are indeed of great joy

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<v Speaker 3>because they announce the arrival of the Savior, fulfilling God's

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<v Speaker 3>promise to redeem His people. The angels' announcement heralded a

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<v Speaker 3>new era filled with hope. The joy comes from the

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<v Speaker 3>realization that God has not abandoned His people. That should

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<v Speaker 3>bring all of us joy today. We don't worship a

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<v Speaker 3>God who has remained distant and aloof. Despite our sin

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<v Speaker 3>and depravity, God chose to rescue us and raise us

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<v Speaker 3>to glory with Him. The very fact that these lowly

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<v Speaker 3>shepherds were able to behold the splendor and majesty of

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<v Speaker 3>the angels is a testament to how God operates. He

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<v Speaker 3>doesn't think about status symbols or wealth. The wise men

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<v Speaker 3>would have been the first to behold the newborn king

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<v Speaker 3>if He did God chose the rustic outcasts, proving He

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<v Speaker 3>doesn't care about your wealth, your popularity, or your status.

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<v Speaker 3>No matter where you are or what you have done,

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<v Speaker 3>the gospel message is for you to enjoy. Let's not

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<v Speaker 3>make the mistake of thinking Christmas is merely for us

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<v Speaker 3>to enjoy, though. Ultimately, Christ's birth gives glory to God.

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<v Speaker 3>The angelic prays, Glory to God in the highest! should

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<v Speaker 3>resonate in our hearts as we ponder the magnitude of

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<v Speaker 3>what God has done. His redemptive plan and magnificence are

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<v Speaker 3>shown throughout the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

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<v Speaker 3>Join us for our next episode of Stories of the

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<v Speaker 3>Messiah as the shepherds search high and low for God's Son.

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<v Speaker 3>When they finally arrive at the stables, the fear and

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<v Speaker 3>awe of the Lord come upon them. And, Unbeknownst to them,

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<v Speaker 3>they set the stage for King Herod to catch wind

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<v Speaker 3>of Jesus.