In artists' drawings, we usually see only a few shepherds at the manger but in this one, there are not just more shepherds but perhaps the whole of Bethlehem!
Could such an event not be noticed by more? An ancient document supposedly found and translated from the Vatican library (The Archko Volume, criticized for its authenticity) tells that Bethlehem's residents did notice and thought the "world was on fire," until the village priest explained that the prophecy of the coming Messiah had finally been realized.
Whether true or not, I love this artist's rendition suggesting that many more than a few shepherds saw God's wonderous phenomenon, for Scripture does say, "they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child" (Luke 2:17). Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were more "widely known" today?
Could such an event not be noticed by more? An ancient document supposedly found and translated from the Vatican library (The Archko Volume, criticized for its authenticity) tells that Bethlehem's residents did notice and thought the "world was on fire," until the village priest explained that the prophecy of the coming Messiah had finally been realized.
Whether true or not, I love this artist's rendition suggesting that many more than a few shepherds saw God's wonderous phenomenon, for Scripture does say, "they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child" (Luke 2:17). Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were more "widely known" today?