Luke 2:8-12 “That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy. Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” (ERV)

So what can we learn from these Shepherds? They were doing their job, taking care of the sheep. They were near Bethlehem. For them it was another ordinary night on the job. Then an angel suddenly appeared! The angel told them not to be afraid. I have very good news. It will make everyone happy. The angel told the shepherds that their Savior was born. He was the Messiah, the Lord. The angel told the shepherds how they can find him. They will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box. And then, an army of angels appeared, all praising God. And then these angels went back to Heaven.

Luke 2:13-17 “Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying, “Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.” The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.” So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box. When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child.” (ERV)

What was the shepherds’ response? After the angels left, they ran to go see this extraordinary event! They told everyone they saw what they heard from the angel. Then they went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It was exactly what the angel told them. What an amazing night!

Luke 2:18-20 “Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them. The shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them.” (ERV)

The shepherds wanted to see the newborn baby. They became witnesses to what the angel said, and to the extraordinary birth of their Messiah. This was the Good News! When a person hears the Good News, it changes you. For you and me, it is a blessing to know that some 2,000 years ago Jesus came into the world. How much did God love us? Jesus came so that through His own death, He can forgive us and save us. What an awesome God we have!

We may not be visited by angels but the angel told the shepherds not to be afraid. God is with us so we do not have to be afraid. So we can have faith in Jesus and live for Him every day that He gives us. We can live our lives for Him. I have multiple myeloma, and though it is in remission, and inactive, I will always have it. But, I do not need be afraid of my cancer. Why? Because I have faith in Jesus who came to earth as a baby, grew up to become the Messiah, and died for me as my Savior. Whatever happens to me, He will be there with me. By faith each of us can have Jesus walking with us in our lives. By faith in Jesus we have eternal life. That’s the Good News and it continues today.