Brant talks about the importance of shepherds in the Christmas story, that they were specifically skilled in caring for the sacrificial lambs. When the angels announced Jesus’ birth to them, the shepherds would have recognized the symbolism of finding him in a manger, that He was the Lamb of God and the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.
Transcription:
Brant:
There’s something about the Christmas story I forget about, but I just thought I’d mention it to you. The whole shepherds thing. We’ve been talking about this, where the angels appear to them. Well, that area was known, maybe you’ve heard this before too, but that area was known for raising sacrificial lambs. That was their hallmark of that area. This is where we know how to do this.
There’s a certain way you’re supposed to handle the lambs, and that was renowned for it. So it’s kind of a backwater place. But that’s what they were really good at, was preparing these ritualistic lambs to be sacrificed for forgiveness of sin. So when the angels pick these shepherds, like scholars agreed, they’re picking these guys. They knew all about how to do that. The other thing is the manger is a trough, but it’s also, it’s usually was made out of stone, and they would take the lamb, but was for that purpose to keep it from being, blemished would be placed when they were born. They’d be wrapped in cloths to keep them from injuring themselves or doing something as they’re thrashing about as babies. And you put ’em in one of these little troughs to keep them without blemish. So when the angels are announcing to the shepherds, they’re basically saying, you guys know what this means? You’re going to find him lying in one of these mangers. You guys know what the mangers for. And they’ll hit wrapped in the cloths. And they had some understanding like, oh, this is the lamb of God. He’s the final sacrifice. This is what’s happening.
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