In Their Own Words: The Testimonies of Those Whose Lives Were Transformed by the Birth of Jesus and the Death of Jesus

By Alan Schmitt

Children’s Bible storybooks, children’s Sunday school lessons, Bible story coloring books, flannel board Bible story presentations, and video of children’s Bible dramas have all unwittingly conspired to create in our mind’s eye a storybook image of the people in the Bible.

Even as adults, we have understood Bible characters as something less than human; we somehow want them to be sacred, different, set apart from who we are. In the process, we have failed to realize that people who lived two thousand years ago were much like each of us today. Like us, when they encountered Jesus, either as a baby in a crib or as Christ on a cross, their lives were transformed. Something happened. They didn’t fully understand it. They just knew that something happened deep inside them. In the presence of the Son of God, they were brought to their knees, humbled by an overwhelming feeling of being in the presence of power and majesty.

The testimonies in this book are fictional, based on Biblical accounts and historical information. They are designed to give a real person glimpse into the minds and hearts of those who might have witnessed the events of the birth and death of Jesus. They represent a cross section of society whose lives were profoundly changed by Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 22, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973653356

Alan Schmitt

Dr. Schmitt has worn many hats in his seventy-plus years of life experiences. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam conflict. He has served in pastoral ministry, education, sales, marketing, and corporate administration. The majority of his experience has been as a restoration pastor. In 2018, Dr. Schmitt was awarded a PhD In Theology from the Truth and Mercy Institute for Advanced Ministry Studies. His dissertation, Treasures in Heaven, is based on Matthew 6:19-20. Dr. Schmitt has been married for fifty years and has two grown daughters, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is now enjoying retirement on a small farm in Southwest Missouri.

Book preview

The

Testimonies of Lives

that were

Transformed

by the

Birth of Jesus

Benjamin

The Shepherd Who Stayed Behind

Shalom my friends. My name is Benjamin. I am from Bethlehem in Judea and I’m a shepherd by trade. It is an honor for a man of my occupation to be allowed to share my story with you. For you see in my country shepherding is not looked upon with much favor.

As a matter of fact, for most of my countrymen it’s a job to be avoided if at all possible. The hours are long, the work is dirty, you’re on your feet all day; you should see the thick calluses on my feet and the pay ... well let’s just say you’ll never get rich tending sheep for a living.

But that’s okay. I’m still proud to be a member of one of the first occupations mentioned in the Bible. You know don’t you that Abel, the second son of Adam & Eve was a shepherd. I learned the trade from my father, who learned it from his father, and as hard as it may be, I’m proud to continue the family tradition.

Although others look down on us, I know how important sheep are to our people. Did you know, for instance, that sheep are a source of food, milk to drink, wool for the weaving of cloth, even a type of canvas used as covering material for tents?

Yes! Their skins are used to age wine and the horns of rams are used as musical instruments. Every Friday evening, Rabbi Enoch blows the Shophar, a ram’s horn, to call us to begin the Sabbath.

And did you know that in the Bible, God refers to his people, you and me, as sheep nearly two hundred times? You may have never considered the significance of that comparison, but I have, because I work with sheep day and night. Let me tell you it’s not a compliment to be called a sheep. If anything, to be compared to one is almost an insult. I sometimes think sheep are the stupidest animals on the face of the earth. Have you ever seen a trained sheep in the circus? No! That’s because they’re too stupid to train.

They’re also dirty. No, they’re not dirty, they’re filthy. Trust me, the wool you see in clothing has been cleaned many times. Those cute fluffy white sheep that you see in pictures didn’t get that way on their own. Sheep will not and cannot clean themselves. I have to do it for them. Not only are they dumb and dirty, sheep are utterly defenseless. All they can do is just stand around and baaaaa, baaaaa!

My day begins early, well before dawn because it’s my job to provide food and water for my sheep. It’s not an easy task. Grass can be found only in narrow strips separated by long stretches of rock and dust. Except during the rainy season, the only water available is from natural springs or wells spread out here and there. I sometimes have to lead my sheep for miles just for a few yards of grass or a quick drink of water.

Fortunately, I know the area outside of Bethlehem like the back of my hand. I’ve walked every square foot of it many times. Did you know that I walk in front of the herd and they follow me? Wherever I go they go. If I was unfamiliar with the land or the sheep were left on their own, trust me they’d starve to death.

We spend the entire morning traveling from pasture to pasture. By mid-day the sheep are exhausted and thirsty. They need refreshing or they will die. So, I plan out my route to pass through the oasis. These are wonderful places that have shade and lush pasture for the sheep to rest. Talk about dumb animals: I even have to make them lie down and drink.

Speaking of which, do you know that sheep won’t drink from just any water source. Oh no! They will only drink from quiet still pools. It’s like they have a natural fear of fast-moving water, and I suppose for good reason. If a sheep should slip into a river or stream its wool would soon soak up the water and become completely saturated.

The weight of the water in their wool would cause them to sink and drown. That’s why the waters must be gentle and still. If I can’t find a pool, I have to create one by diverting water from a stream. Are you beginning to understand what hard work shepherding is?

In the evening, we gather the sheep together in a canyon or one of the many sheep pens we have made over the years. When I say we, I mean me and the other shepherds. We gather our flocks together so we can take turns guarding them. The shepherd on watch will lay across the opening into the pen… kind of like a human door.

Then in the morning, one by one we call our sheep and they come out. As dumb as they are, they are able to recognize their shepherd’s voice from the others. It was on one such night, shortly after we had bedded them down, that it happened.

I had found a quite spot up-wind from the pen and had just fallen asleep when Jacob came running through the grass shouting, He’s here! The Messiah has come! The angels… the angels… they have told us where he is! Jacob was a young lad of fifteen. The newest member of our shepherd team.

Now, when you’re a shepherd you spend a lot of time alone… just you and the sheep. And, well, sometimes your mind can play tricks on you. Especially when you are new at this shepherding thing like Jacob was.

So, I smiled and told him, Sure Jacob. You saw angels? Hadn’t heard that one in a while. Well, tell them I said hi and we appreciate the word about the Messiah. Good-night Jacob!

But you don’t understand! he said. The old man said they are real. He told us about the prophet Micah saying that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

The old man was Simon, the local patriarch of shepherds. He was quite a Bible scholar, although some of the stuff he would come up with made me wonder if he had spent too many years with the sheep. Tell Simon I am happy for him. Good-night Jacob!

Okay, good-night. But you should have seen it! The whole sky lit up and there were voices and singing and… Good-night Jacob! Good-night, Benjamin.

Finally! Now maybe I could get a little sleep before my watch. Not!

About the time I had fallen asleep, again, here comes Jacob, again, running through the grass shouting even louder, Wake up Benjamin, we’re going to see him! Simon is going to take us into Bethlehem to see the Messiah!

Really! You are all going into Bethlehem?

Yes! Isn’t it exciting! We are going to see the Messiah!

You are all going into Bethlehem? I asked. Yes!

And who is going to watch the sheep while you are on your Messiah adventure? To which the boy replied,

Uh, I don’t know. Simon didn’t say anything about that.

Well, now that I was wide-awake, I went back to the sheep pen to see what was going on. Sure enough, the old man was already headed into the city with the other shepherds following him like a bunch of dumb sheep.

You coming, Benjamin? asked Jacob. No, Jacob. You go on. I’ll stay behind and watch the sheep. So off they went.

I had heard Rabbi Enoch talk about the Messiah before and I always wondered about that fourth cup on the Passover table. But give me a break, okay?

The Messiah was supposed to be a new king like David. I doubt very seriously that news of the arrival of such a king would be made to a bunch of shepherds.

And I didn’t see or hear any angels. All I saw when I looked up in the sky were stars; especially that bright one over there that looked like it was hovering over the city.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a good Jew. And I have spent my fair share of time studying the law and the prophets. I know what the prophet Isaiah said about the coming Messiah.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

I remembered. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.

It seems to me like I once heard Rabbi Enoch say that there are over 300 prophesies about the Messiah, including that one that Simon mentioned about how he would be born in Bethlehem.

But angels, and voices, and singing? I was sure there would be a logical explanation when they got back. It’s not like this is the first time anyone has ever thought the Messiah had arrived.

The sun was just starting to come up when they returned. I could hear them in the distance, singing and shouting, Praise be to God! A light has come into the darkness! When they got closer, I could see that they were dancing, even old Simon. If I didn’t know better, I