Christmas 2025 is almost here. Let’s use this as a time to focus on the Christmas account of the birth of the Christ-child and discover unique facts about Christmas we may not have ever considered.

For example, how about those shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night (Luke 2:8). Who were these guys anyway? All we know about them is they were shepherds in Bethlehem. This means most likely the sheep they were watching that first Christmas night were sheep destined to become sacrificial lambs at the Temple in Jerusalem. Bethlehem is close to Jerusalem. If you travel it today, it takes less than half an hour—about 5 and 1/2 miles. In that day, a little longer of course, but certainly doable in a few hours.

These shepherds in that field that night were raising sacrificial lambs for the Temple, and then suddenly, the visit of the angels tells them the Lamb of God has been born in Bethlehem. Once they recover from the fright of this visitation, they decide to go see the Lamb of God, born to take away the sin of the world.

Leaving their sheep behind—which was very unusual for shepherds to do—they travel to find the baby with Mary and Joseph, and they worship him. Then they spread the word, telling everyone what they had seen and who they had seen! Reminds me of a wonderful verse from the wonderful song, A Cradle in the Shadow of the Cross. Talking about the shepherds looking at Baby Jesus—listen to this verse:

The shepherd lads were bending the knee, and how the little lambs were all trying to see, the Passover Lamb, born in a manager, just to give his life for lost sheep like me.

A baby born to be a lamb—the Lamb of God for you and me. We have much to celebrate this Christmas! Jesus was born in a manger to become a man—the God-Man, the only qualified Savior who gave his life for lost sheep like me and you. Think about that today; it’s a great way to prepare your heart for Christmas day.