Thursday, May 6, 2010

Synopsis : The Shepherd

This is the story of a shepherd and his family set in the time of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem more than two thousand years ago. Joshua is one of the shepherds to whom the angel of God gave the first message of the birth of Jesus Christ.

The story begins with the simple narration of this Jewish family who believes in the coming of the messiah. They live in a modest hut on a hillock near Bethlehem. Joshua has two daughters and two sons. He and his wife Sarah teach their children about Yahweh, the Jewish customs and about the promise of the coming of the Messiah. Their life is humble but tough with meager earnings but their hope in the promise of the Lord is strong.

The climax of the story is the day the angel of God proclaims the birth of Jesus to the shepherds who are tending their sheep in the pasture.Just after the angel’s message, Rueben, the elder son comes running to inform Joshua that his younger son David, who has been ailing for a while, has become very sick. Joshua is torn between going to pay homage to baby Jesus with the other shepherds on the one hand and to be with his son David on the other hand.

The decision Joshua takes is what shapes his future life. Read the book and find out Joshua's decision and how this affects his future and his family.