Why are the shepherds important in the Christmas story?

There are several layers of significance associated with the shepherds and their role in the Christmas story:

• They represent the humble, common man.
• They are shepherds in the same way Jesus is the shepherd of the people.
• They are Jews, and together with the gentile Magi show that Christ's message is for all mankind.
• They represent rural innocence.
• The goodness of life lived in harmony with nature.
• God considered shepherds to be honest messengers who would take the news of the newborn king to the people.