Luke 2:8-208And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:8‑20)
THERE were fields near Bethlehem. On the night when Jesus was born, some shepherds were sitting by their sheep in those fields. Why did they sit up at night? To keep their sheep from the wolves and lions which walk about at night. There are no wolves and lions where we live, but near Bethlehem there were some.
These shepherds saw a great light. A beautiful angel came from heaven. The poor shepherds were afraid; but the angel said, ‘Fear not, I have good news to tell you. God has sent His own Son from heaven to save you from hell. He is a baby now, lying in a manger. Go to Bethlehem, and you will find Him.’
When the angel finished speaking, hundreds and hundreds of bright angels filled the sky, and began singing and praising God for having sent His Son to save many people.
At last the angels went back to heaven, and the shepherds were left alone.
Did they stay with their sheep?
No. They said, ‘let us go and see the Son of God.’
They ran to Bethlehem and went to the stable at the inn. There was a babe lying in the manger. Mary and Joseph were sitting beside it. The shepherds said, ‘This is the Son of God. Angels have spoken to us tonight. They told us where to find Him.’
All the people in Bethlehem were very surprised when the shepherds told them about the angels and the Son of God.
Blessed Babe! What glorious features,
Spotless fair, divinely bright!
Must He dwell with brutish creatures?
How could angels bear the sight?
Was there nothing but a manger
Wretched sinners could afford,
To receive the heavenly stranger?
Did they thus affront the Lord?
See the kinder shepherds round Him,
Telling wonders from the sky.
Where they sought Him, there they found Him,
With His virgin mother by.
Questions
Who were in the fields near Bethlehem the night Jesus was born?
Why did the shepherds sit up at night?
What did they see in the sky?
What did the angels tell them?
Who sang the songs in the sky?
When the angels went away, where did the shepherds go?
Did the shepherds tell people what they had seen?
What the shepherds did:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn: