Have you seen the show on Discovery Channel, called Dirty Jobs? The show profiles the unsung American laborers who make their living in the most unthinkable — yet vital — ways. They highlight jobs such as Charcoal Maker, Disaster Clean-up Crew member, sewage plant worker, and bone black plant technician. It is interesting to note that in the Christmas Story, the birth of the Good Shepherd was first announced to a small group of Shepherds who had one of the dirtiest jobs of the time. The birth of the Perfect Lamb of God was announced to those who prepared lambs used for temple sacrifices during Passover.
When the King of Kings sent out his baby announcements, he started with those at the bottom of the social register and invited men from the despised class with a lowly job, a group of devout men who smelled like sheep dung and crusted animal blood under their fingernails. Because of this they remained unclean and were unfit to attend corporate worship. But in the Lord’s heavenly wisdom He determined to utilize the marketing network of this small lonely group of dirty shepherds to make known the birth of His Son. A group of men, who likely knew more sheep by name than they did people. He chose outsiders, men who didn’t get invited to anything so that even you and I could come to Him, no matter how much dirt, guilt or shame we have. With dirty shepherds at the party, we would never feel out of place.
“If then we desire to come to Christ, let us not be ashamed to follow those whom the Lord, in order to cast down the pride of the world, has taken, from among the dung of cattle, to be our instructors.” – John Calvin
Lead, Laugh, Love 