Sheep Jokes ~ Greg J

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night...."
Luke 2

I have read that in Jesus' time shepherds were social outcasts. This has puzzled me. Sure, shepherds tended to be paid minimum wage. There's the odor problem. I can't imagine a parent being thrilled with little Amos or Anna saying, "Dad, Mom, when I grow up I want to be a shepherd."

But shepherds had opportunity for advancement. Get a ram and ewes of your own, put on some Barry White, profit! You could diversify into wool, mutton, or the shofar industry. The big figures of Bible history began as shepherds: Abel. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Joseph and his brothers. Moses. King David! Shepherds all.

So why couldn't shepherds get more respect?

I pondered the life of the shepherd. There they sat on that silent night. They watched their sheep sleep. If these were cold, low-grade sheep, they watched their heaped cheap sheep sleep.

Perhaps the shepherds told each other jokes to pass the time. What kind of humor would a first-century Seinfeld present? What material presented itself?

(To see a response to the following, rest your mouse pointer over the question.)
 

• What do you call a sheep with one eye and a wooden leg?
• How does a young sheep wake up in the morning?
• Where do sheep go to get their wool cut?
• If you want to buy a sheep, where do you get everyday low prices?
• Did you know you can get electricity from sheep?
• How do sheep keep the wolf out of their car?
• Actually, it’s dangerous for sheep to have cars...
• What do sheep do in church?
• How do you wish a sheep merry Christmas?
• Where might one go to learn more sheep humor?

 
Now you know why the people of Bethlehem groaned when the shepherds came to town.

(These baaad bits were inflicted on residents and visitors during our recent caroling at Powhatan Nursing Home.)