What If? – Shepherds
“I’ve got a book for you.” That’s my tagline.
This time, it’s one that will help you reflect on Jesus’s earthly ministry as we prepare to celebrate His death and resurrection. It’s a blended harmony of the Gospels broken into 40 days of readings. Although my recommendation comes a little late for this year, it’s a perfect Lenten devotion. Any time of year, though, you can enjoy this cohesive narrative compiled from the accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It’s available from Amazon here.
I’ve been reading it in preparation for an Easter short story I’ll be releasing soon. If you read my Advent series, you’ll be familiar with the characters. If that doesn’t ring a bell, here’s a synopsis.
A young shepherd boy, Tobiah, would rather be doing anything besides tending sheep in Bethlehem’s fields. His attitude changes, though, when the night sky is filled with angels praising God and announcing the Messiah’s birth.
You can read his story here:
So what does this shepherd boy have to do with Easter?
Do you think the angel’s announcement of the Savior’s birth had a lasting impact on the shepherds? Of course! They had to know that the Passover lambs they tended were mere placeholders for the Messiah. Just imagine – every year, the High Priest would come to Bethlehem to choose a Passover lamb. And every year, the shepherds would know that the true Lamb wasn’t there. Did they know about the itinerant teacher despised by the Pharisees? Did they realize He was the Son of God they’d held as a baby?
How would Tobiah, now an adult, react when he learned of the plot to kill Jesus?
