From Shepherd Boy to Good Shepherd || Humble Beginnings

As predicted, Jesus has the most chapters dedicated to Him in the Bible.  But there is a man ranked number two.  He has 66 chapters dedicated to his life.  He is mentioned again 59 more times in the New Testament.  You probably know him for his giant slaying skills; it’s David - the man after God’s own heart, the beginning of the lineage of Christ. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Before Goliath, before the throne, before the ancestry, there was a field of sheep - and the “runt” of the family.

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I grew up in the “Apple Capital of Pennsylvania.” So I know lots of farmers. They get up early, tend to their animals and crops, work hard all day, and do it again tomorrow and all seven days of the week. The common characteristic of a farm family is they “always stay humble and kind.”

I don’t think Jesse and his family were any different. They were from a simple town, with simple people. So when Samuel shows up to Bethlehem (a town barely anyone heard of) to anoint a king, Jesse must have been shocked. He lined up his 7 oldest sons. I’m sure they took showers and put on their Sunday best. And when God told Samuel it wasn’t any of these handsome lads, Jesse sent for the runt in the field tending to the sheep.

David shows up in his clothing soaked in sheep stench and God says, “He’s the one.” You ever smell a field after it’s been fertilized? That’s the stench of the anointed king!

And if you think God was done with fragrances, jump to the New Testament.

God creates the universe, frees slaves, heals wounds, rules the world and now He’s about to enter the earth to dwell among us. God creates a 100% God and 100% human Son - Jesus.

Let’s roll out the red carpet! Get the lighting up (but not too much, I don’t want God to look washed out)! Get People, US Weekly, and the New York Times out here! Book the longest limo you have with champagne and hor d’oeuvres! Call the secret service! Get Miss Universe here to escort Him!

Wait...stop! Remember the stench of the other anointed king? Yeah, that odor is back for the King of the Universe too.

There wasn’t the grand entry we expected. No, yet again, a simple man and woman from a small town. And if you don’t know where this is going, David had this great-great-great…(insert more “greats”)....grandson named Joseph. And Joseph was married to a pregnant woman named Mary. Oh, and Mary wasn’t pregnant with any kid, it was Jesus.

When I was born, I rudely interrupted my mom’s soap opera. But I think Jesus one upped me. Mary is labor and the inn is full (remember small town, minimal hotels). But hey, they have a barn!

Take a wiff! Remember that smell? Ahhh, the fragrance of a King.

Jesus born amongst the stench of farm animals. Talk about anticlimactic. God didn’t cause a scene; He humbly enter the earth in the slop dish for the animals.

But this is the just the beginning...the humble beginnings.

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From Shepherd Boy to Good Shepherd || Anointed Kings

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Muffins, Egg Casserole, and Pretzels with a side of Fellowship