Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

In Jesus’ day, shepherds were often regarded as a rough bunch—perhaps they were the “rednecks” of their time. A shepherd’s occupation did not allow them to observe many of the Jewish laws and feasts, so they were looked down upon by some “pious” Jews. Yet, Jesus was born for them too. In Luke’s gospel, the first people to hear of, and respond to, the birth of the Christ were the...