Good News to the
Shepherds
Luke 2:8–20
8In the same region, shepherds
were living out in the fields and
keeping watch at night over their flock. 9Then an angel of the Lord
stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for you
see, I announce to you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people: 11because
today in the city of David was born for you a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord. 12This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby
wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly
there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and
saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!”
15When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds
said to one another, “Let’s go
straight to Bethlehem and see†
this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16And they hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger†. 17After seeing them,
they reported the message they were told about this child, 18and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But
Mary was treasuring up all these
things in her heart and meditating†
on them. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.[1]
Luke 2:8-14 Angels Proclaim Birth
Bethlehem: The City of David
Bethlehem was known as “the city of David” (Luke 2:11) because King David had grown up in this village about one thousand years before Jesus was born. The prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). The Jewish people believed the Messiah would be a descendant of David, the most popular king in their history.
According to early Christian tradition, Jesus was born in a cave that served as a stable for the inn at Bethlehem. This site is marked today by the Church of the Nativity, a place visited every year by thousands of Holy Land tourists.
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.
"Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!"
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:
"Glory to God in the highest heaven," they sang, "and peace on earth for all those pleasing him."
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- How does the shepherds' experience with the angels compare to that of Zachariah (1:8-9) and Mary (1:26-27)?
- Of all the people the angels could have visited, why did God send them to the shepherds? How does that relate to Mary's song (1:46-55)?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
- God appeared to Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds when they were just being themselves. What does that imply about what it means to be "spiritual"? How has God spoken to you in the ordinary flow of life?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
What a birth announcement! The shepherds were terrified, but their fear turned to joy as the angels announced the Messiah's birth. First the shepherds ran to see the baby; then they spread the word. The good news about Jesus is that he comes to all, including the plain and the ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Don't think you need extraordinary qualifications—he accepts you as you are. Jesus is your Messiah, your Savior. Do you look forward to meeting him in prayer and in his Word each day? Discover a Lord so wonderful that you can't help sharing your joy with your friends!
Luke 2:15-20 Shepherds Visit Baby
When this great army of angels had returned again to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on! Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
Then the shepherds went back again to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
- What precious events has God done that you "treasure in your heart"?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
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