And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:8-9

            Shepherds are a wonderful metaphor for Jesus.  He called himself the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and frequently referred to sheep and shepherds in parables (the lost sheep, those sheep who know his voice, the sheepfold and robbers).  Bethlehem was also where the sacrificial lambs were raised to be sacrificed in Jerusalem, which Jesus would do 33 some years later.  Shepherds were also humble and for the humble to get the birth announcement first said a lot about God’s target audience.  The Jewish leaders missed the star, but the shepherds saw the heavenly host.