On that special night outside of Bethlehem, a young shepherd named Ethan and other shepherds were watching their flocks. A startling event, which begins the transformation of Ethan’s life, is the sudden appearance of an angel, who joyfully announces that a savior is born in Bethlehem. All the shepherds, except for Ethan, leave to find this child. Ethan is left to tend the sheep. As he stands his watch, a caravan with three magi approaches. Learning they are being pursued by Herod’s soldiers Ethan gladly helps them evade their pursuers. In gratitude for his assistance the magi give him three very large gold coins. The next night, a couple and their newborn baby named Jesus appear. They are also fleeing from Herod’s soldiers. They too seek Ethan’s aid. As he had with the magi he leads them to safety.

Many years pass, but Ethan never forgets those two extraordinary nights. All that time he has kept the coins, believing they are worth much more than their monetary value. His belief is confirmed, when, thirty years later he sees and hears Jesus preach.

Although the words of Jesus inspire Ethan, it is without any commitment that he follows this man called the Son of God. He simply believes that Jesus is the only one who can unravel the mystery of the coins. In his efforts to have Jesus reveal their meaning to him he discovers that there are those who plan to kill Jesus. Once more Ethan feels compelled to help and he joins with Peter and John in an attempt to save Jesus’ life. Ultimately, God’s glory is magnified and Ethan’s life is completely transformed. The coins play their part as well---but not as anyone could have ever imagined.

 

It was cold that night, perhaps colder than it had ever been. For certain, it was the coldest Ethan could remember. Of course, he could not remember that many, having lived through only twelve winters; thirteen if he lived through this one. But Jesse, who was much, much older, vowed it was also the coldest night he could remember. Ethan did not know just how old Jesse was, but he knew Jesse was very old, even older than his father, more than forty years at least. Not only was the night especially cold, there was something else that made it unusual, even special--something about the stars. There was no moon. Though the stars on such nights were always bright and looked so near, tonight they shone brighter and seemed even closer. Ethan felt they would be near enough to touch if only his arms were a little longer. He knew it was a wild fantasy and foolish even to try. Besides, the very thought of extending his hand and arm into the frigid air outside the heavy covering of his cloak sent a shiver through his body. As if the sudden chill were a signal for more pleasant thoughts, he thought of the end of his watch when he could return to where the other shepherds were camped. He looked at the distant hillside and the small hollow where they were gathered around a blazing fire. The hollow itself provided good shelter from the wind, which at night swept severely across the open, treeless land. Ethan knew that, with such protection and the fire, the others were quite comfortable. He felt a twinge of envy, but also thought he felt warmer. The sheep grazed during the day as best they could upon the sparse dry remnants of grass in the shallow soil. At night they huddled on the same ground in a large mass of white, wooly bodies. Unlike goats, which Ethan had also tended, sheep needed no shelter other than their thick, curly coats of wool which provided them all the warmth and comfort they needed. This scene was so enticing, so alluring, that Ethan imagined he was immersed in the sheep’s fleecy softness and drifting off to sleep. Even though the thought was only imagined, like that of the campfire and touching a star, it posed such a warm, cozy prospect, he nourished it and smiled, really believing he was warmer. 2 In spite of the cold, the night was incredibly beautiful, and just being there and doing what he was doing meant he was being treated like a man, doing a man’s job. For that he felt immensely proud. Becoming thirteen years old, a bar mitzvah, a son of the commandments, was the greatest event in his life. On that special day he reached manhood. Without any real celebration it just happened. However, in keeping with custom, on the Sabbath following his birthday he was given special recognition; he was allowed to read from the Torah and recite a blessing over the reading. Nothing else, but the feeling it aroused was tremendous. Just a day earlier, he was only a child, not responsible or accountable for what he did or didn’t do. Up until that time his father had been fully responsible for his conduct and behavior. If he did wrong, his father bore the blame. Because he loved and respected his father he had always tried to please him, never doing anything to bring shame or dishonor upon him or his mother. Then, just over night, he was suddenly grown up, an adult, and though he hadn’t grown at all and looked just the same, he felt different. There was a definite change in both his feelings and attitude, a real transformation in his life. He believed this was just the way God planned it and intended it to be. He was like a bird that one moment is unable to fly and then suddenly can and does, leaving its fledgling days behind forever. That was the way his life would be, like that of his father, grandfathers and all of his people as far back as anyone could remember. And he knew it was the only life he wanted. Thinking such thoughts gave him a wonderful feeling, and on this night, cold as it was, he felt perfectly content, willing to accept the challenges and dangers that were ever present in the lives of shepherds. 3 Suddenly, without any warning or sign whatsoever, he was abruptly jarred from his reverie by the most awesome sight imaginable! The heavens literally erupted into a blazing radiance, brighter than daylight, as brilliant as a lightning flash that doesn’t pass. The effect was almost blinding, but when he shielded his eyes, he could see that this great light came from what looked like a huge star, fixed in the sky, and sharply illuminating all the surrounding pastures and hills. The sheep below looked much whiter, like large puffs of snow, and across the way he could easily see the other shepherds, standing like statues around their fire which had dwindled to a mere spark in the overpowering brightness. Ethan felt no danger, and somehow he knew that this great display of power around him was good. Even the sheep were not alarmed. They had awakened, but without the baaing or milling about as there usually would have been when something as sudden and dramatic as this had disrupted their world. As Ethan was beginning to adjust to this magnificent phenomenon, something even more startling occurred. Up above him, at a height higher than the hilltops, a man appeared, suspended in the air and dressed in a long flowing white robe. He was exceptionally handsome and although his countenance also shone brightly, Ethan was able to see his face quite distinctly, which, though absolutely serene was exultant in unmistakable joy. Instinctively, he fell to his knees and folded his hands in prayerful submission. The angel, for in fact it was an angel, began speaking. Ethan would have expected to hear something like the booming roll of thunder, but the voice was easy to hear, perfectly clear and melodious, rippling with excitement as he announced: Fear not, for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall Be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. There were other instructions, and when the angel had finished, he was joined by many, many more angels, their radiant beauty adorning all the hills and filling the entire countryside. In great choral splendor they sang. Oh, how they sang! Their voices swelled through the valleys and around and over the hills, praising God and this Christ, this Saviour that the first angel had told about. Ethan was not sure what it all meant, but he well remembered the words they sang: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men. As suddenly as the angels had come they went away. They simply vanished, leaving everything as though nothing had happened, except for the magnificent star that remained, motionless in the heavens with its blinding, unwavering light. 4 Ethan remained kneeling for some time, his mind reeling, his heart pounding, his emotions in turmoil. When at last he stood up, he shook his head to clear it and knew he did not want to be alone.

After serving in the military during the Korean War, Donn Bennett graduated from King College with a major in English. In 1959 he received a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Bennett lives with his wife, Sarah, in Dothan, Alabama where he serves as a Ruling Elder in The First Presbyterian Church.