“Abba! Abba! Tell us the story, please!”
Asaf chuckled as the children excitedly tugged at his robe and pleaded with upturned faces.
“Hmmm, which story I wonder,” he teased.
“Oh Abba, you know! We want to hear it again!”
Asaf’s knees creaked as he sat cross-legged on the ground and stroked his greying beard. His age was catching up with him now, but the youthful twinkle in his eyes belied the physical toll the years had taken.
The children squealed delightedly and gathered around. The flocks grazed across the hillsides in the fading twilight. The sight sparked Asaf’s memory of that special night so many years ago.
Asaf cleared his throat and began in a deep, resonant voice, “It was an evening much like this one. I had just returned from tracking down a wayward lamb. It was the first time I had been sent on my own to complete such a task. I was young, actually, about the same age as you lot.”
The children giggled as Asaf tapped each of their noses with an index finger and winked.
“I was proud that the older shepherds trusted me to find the lost sheep. I spent hours searching and finally found the little fellow trapped in a ravine. I pulled him out with my shepherd’s hook and carried him across my shoulders. I arrived back at camp as the first stars were appearing in the night sky. The others gathered around to celebrate the return of the lost little one. I kept him with me as we settled down to supper. The fire was getting low and I drifted toward sleep. The lamb was curled up beside me.”
“What was the lamb’s name?” one of the children interrupted.
“Hmm? Oh. The other shepherds had nicknamed him Prodigal. The little guy had developed a habit of running off recklessly. He had one black patch on his ear and that’s how we told him apart from the rest of the lambs.
Anyway, Prodigal and I were almost asleep when the strangest thing happened. A brilliant light flashed and lit up the whole hillside like it was midday! Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared. The other shepherds and I didn’t know quite what to think. I was terribly frightened. The angel hovered above us and light emanated from him. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen!
His voice echoed out over the hills, “Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior. He is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
Then, it was like the heavens opened and a great multitude of the heavenly hosts appeared with the first angel. They were praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men on whom His favor rests!”
“I don’t know how long we listened, transfixed,” Asaf continued, “But eventually, the angels departed back into heaven. The more experienced shepherds began chattering excitedly. “Did you see what I just saw? What do you make of it?” I stood listening to them and in all the commotion, Prodigal slipped away again. I looked down and he was just gone!”
“Prodigal!” I called. An answering “baaa” rang out from the next hillside in the direction of Bethlehem. I managed to interrupt the others, “Prodigal got away again. I think he’s going toward the town.”
One of the oldest shepherds grunted, “I believe this time Prodigal has the right idea. Let’s go and find the child of which the angel spoke. We’ll catch Prodigal on the way.”
I ran out ahead of the others calling Prodigal’s name. I could hear him in the distance and each time I got close he moved away again. Finally, I caught up to the little rascal on the outskirts of Bethlehem. There was a stable and I could see lantern light filtering from inside.
I cautiously scooped up Prodigal and peered in the doorway. I thought if someone had forgotten to blow out the lamp, I had better do so just in case.
There I beheld a sight I’ll never forget. A young couple rested in the circle of the lantern’s light looking lovingly at a newborn baby lying in the manger.
The angel’s greeting echoed in my mind, “This shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
The baby’s mother looked up and saw my awestruck face peering in the doorway. She smiled, “Come in,” she whispered. “I’m Mary. This is Joseph.”
I tentatively approached. Everything was just as the angel foretold. I could not take my eyes away from the sleeping child’s face. This was my Savior the angel had said. This was the Christ. My mind struggled to fathom the incredible news. After four centuries of silence, and no prophets, the Lord had finally delivered the promised Messiah.
Even Prodigal seemed subdued. Perhaps he knew he was in the presence of royalty. The baby, who had been sleeping peacefully, fussed as a cold breeze passed through the stable.
“He’s cold,” Mary shook her head and gingerly lifted the infant into her arms before laying him against her side.
Prodigal began to squirm. “Oh no you don’t I whispered sternly. You aren’t running away again.” But, then I noticed that Prodigal seemed to be staring intently at the baby.
Carefully, I knelt next to Mary and the baby and set Prodigal down. Prodigal promptly curled up next to the child and blinked owlishly at me.
The baby’s fussing stopped immediately as he snuggled against Prodigal’s soft, wool coat.
Joseph laughed suddenly, “The lamb keeps Jesus warm, Mary.”
The other shepherds finally caught up to Prodigal and me. They were completely in awe of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
We spent the midnight hours telling the couple how the angel had appeared to us and told us who Jesus really was. They, in turn, told us of the miraculous things which surrounded their own experiences with Jesus’ birth and how an angel had appeared to each of them at different times.
As morning drew nigh, we took our leave. Prodigal nuzzled my hand and I put him across my shoulders for the journey home. I glanced up and saw the brightest star in the whole sky had come to rest over the stable.
The other shepherds and I have told our story to anyone who would listen about Jesus the Messiah.
Over the years, I heard more news of Jesus: He performed many miracles and became a renowned teacher. Many doubted whether He was really the Messiah, but I know it in my bones to be true.
“And children, when you get old like me, I expect you to tell more young children what I am telling you. Jesus the Messiah is Lord!” Asaf clapped his hands as he finished.
The children laughed and jumped to their feet, “We will, Abba,” they chorused and rushed off to play.
Asaf chuckled to himself and stroked his beard, marveling at the grace which allowed him, a lowly shepherd, to herald the news of the Messiah. He knew God’s ways and thoughts were higher than his own.
As the camp fire crackled and the stars appeared in the sky, a single sheep exited the herd and lay down next to Asaf’s side. One of Prodigal’s descendants, he had a black patch on one ear. Asaf rejoiced in his heart and praised the Lord for Jesus, his Messiah.
Merry Christmas! Peace on earth good will toward men!
Grace and peace friends,
A. A. Wordsmith
This is a work of historical fiction. Bolded quotations taken from Luke 2: 1-14.
Selah Vie! 