[8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them,

Imagine the shepherds out in the field, the sheep secure, the shepherds settled in for the watch. They’re probably quietly talking, telling jokes, roasting one another, whatever trivials men in groups discuss.

When suddenly, out of nowhere… LIGHT! Their eyes water and smart, unable to adjust to startling brilliance. They cover their faces. Someone yelps. Through squinty eyes, they can just make out the shape of an angel. An angel? Is that really an angel?

The light dims ever so slightly and in a thundering voice the craziest message throughout all of history is delivered:

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

A bright light, an angel, good news, the Christ? Their brains are still assimilating pieces of this great event, when it gets even greater:

[13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

    [14] “Glory to God in the highest,

            and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The interrupted conversation forgotten, a new topic begins:

“What was that! Were those angels?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Did they say what I think they said? Something about the Christ?”

“Yes, they said He has been born in the City of David. Guys, I think that’s Bethlehem.”

“Well, he shouldn’t be that hard to find. A baby in a manger is not something you see every day. I would like to go check this out.”

“Seriously? In a manger? Wrapped in rags? The long awaited Christ???”

    [15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

[16] And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

We don’t know how long it took them to find the manger, but we know they went with haste. They are going in search of the Christ! Nothing else matters!

“Isn’t that…?”

“Yeah. A baby… just as the angel told us.”

With eyes previously blinded by the glory of God, the shepherds gaze in awe at their Messiah. Some fall to their knees, speechless. It’s too much to think about. Others just start talking:

“Sir, Ma’am… wait ‘till you hear how we found you!”

[17] And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

They were so excited! They have just found the long awaited Messiah! What the angels told them really was good news, and it was true! They have seen for themselves! Who can keep quiet now?

Good news started with an angel. Now it is the shepherds who spread good news.

[18] And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. [19] But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Reluctantly, one of the shepherds remembers the sheep left in the field. “We have to get back to the sheep, guys. I don’t want to leave either, but we have a job to do.”

[20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (ESV)

Does the news of the birth of our Savior, who is Christ the Lord, motivate us like it did the shepherds? Are we prompted to go and look for Him, in haste? When we see Him, does excitement and joy well up within us, until all we can do is tell others? Does it further bubble over in the form of glorifying and praising God for all we have heard and seen?

Let us dwell on the good news of Christmas until we know what the shepherds knew. Let us help them spread the good news. And then let us allow the Holy Spirit to stir it up within until it spills over in the form of glory and praise to the One who delivered to us a Savior!

-Kym Satterwhite