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Issue one: Shepherds
In chapter two of the account given by Luke of
Jesus’ life, there are shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem on the night Jesus is born. They
1
Most of the story I am referring to in this book can be read in
Luke’s biography of Jesus in the Bible, the Christmas part of which
is reproduced in the appendix at the end of this book.
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THE CURIOUS SIGN OF THE MANGER
Review copy only—not for distribution.
New Testament part of the Bible at least) at the
time that we celebrate as ‘Christmas’.
Now, it was a story that, in theory, I knew
well. I could sing the carols and everything!
Joseph and Mary, Bethlehem, the shepherds in
the fields, the choir of angels, the stable and the
baby in the manger, the three wise men—I had
all of that down pat. There was only one problem. Well, several actually.
When I read this story1 again as an adult—as
a Christian—I just couldn’t make sense of it. It is
a story that poses so many questions, but doesn’t
seem to give many answers. Why shepherds? Why
a stable? And what on earth is a ‘manger’ and why
should anybody care? For years and years, I just
couldn’t figure it out. Let me explain what I mean.
12/09/2016 1:02 PM