The Third Week of Advent - begins December 14th
Today, we light the Shepherds candle, also known as the candle of Joy. Scripture tells us that upon Jesus’ birth, the angels burst forth from heaven declaring,
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14.
A few things stand in the background of the narrative. First, the angels appeared to local shepherds. Shepherds were not like the great cattlemen in our history with large ranches, money, and power. They formed the lower caste of society and were considered untrustworthy people in a despised trade. Shepherding was the job you took when you had no other options. It was a job given to the poor, slaves, or immigrants desperate for work.
Second, shepherds were considered ceremonially unclean because of the nature of caring for their herd. Sheering, managing birth, dressing wounds, and burying the dead were all functions of the shepherd. It was impossible for them to keep the purity laws required, making them unable to attend community functions and unacceptable in the temple.
Finally, they were caring for the very animals used in the temple as sacrifices to atone for sin and uncleanness.
The angel’s appearance to a group of local shepherds wasn’t an accident. They announced the birth of a Savior in the birthplace of David, a shepherd who became a king. The angels are making a statement about God, that He “shows no partiality” (Romans 2:11). They teach a lesson about the Savior who came to receive the despised and unclean into His family. It’s a picture of Christ who came to shepherd God’s children. It’s an allusion to the sacrifice Christ would make to atone for our sin, as John says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
As we light this candle, we rejoice in our High Priest, Jesus, who came to give Himself for our sin, so that we could be reconciled to God!
Further Study:
If you’d like to do more reading on the function of a priest, spend the next few weeks reading the book of Hebrews. Here is also the Bible Project link for Hebrews.
For families with children
Read through the story of Jesus’ birth announcement in Luke 1:26-33. Just take a few verses each day.