2nd Book

{{bl| Advent Dec 19 - Lk 2:15 }}

{{bgw| Lu 2:8 }}  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
{{Lu 2:15 }} And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

The Shepherds left the sheep to find Jesus. Does this remind you of the parable?

{{bgw| Lk 14:4-7 }}  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5  And when he hath found [it], he layeth [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together [his] friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Certainly there is rejoicing when a sinner repents. But in every parable there is also a picture of Jesus.

The shepherds left the sheep in the field, not in an enclosed safe place. Like the man who sold everything to buy the field with the treasure, the shepherds have given up everything to find Christ. This makes no economic sense until you realize the sheep are all lost without the 'lost sheep' the long awaited Messiah.