The Shepherds and Angels

Gò0dNews for Kids

The Shepherds and Angels

by Danny Hesterly

Do you remember that part in the Christmas Story where the angels begin to sing to the shepherds who are out in the middle of their fields taking care of their sheep? Just in case you might have forgotten, it’s found in Luke 2:8-15:

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured

them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

This had to be both amazing and a bit scary for the shepherds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an angel, but if I did, I’d probably feel just like those shepherds did that night. There are a lot of really fun and fascinating things found in this passage of scripture. Like the announcement of the Messiah (the Savior of the world) or how there was just one angel, then all of a sudden, a ton of angels were singing. But there’s one huge thought I’ve always had that stands out when I read the Christmas Story. Here it is: Of all the people in the world, the angel of the Lord told the most important news to a bunch of smelly, poor, and unpopular shepherds. You see, being a shepherd during Jesus’ time wasn’t a job most people wanted. Shepherds were considered not smart or trustworthy. They didn’t make a lot of money being shepherds, and most people didn’t want to be friends with them. But we see in Luke 2 that an angel of the Lord came to the shepherds FIRST! Wow!

The good news is that the Messiah, the Lord, being born in Bethlehem belonged to everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, rich or poor, liked or disliked. This good news was for shepherds and kings alike. Isn’t that just amazing? God sees us as His children. We are all important to Him. God doesn’t have favorites. His good news is for everyone.

So, during this Christmas season, we ALL get to receive the greatest gift ever given to us. His name is Jesus. He is God’s son. He is the Savior of the world, and He wants to be our friend.

About The Author Danny Hesterly lives in Chattanooga, TN where he spends most of his days in coffee shops helping others discover their part in God’s amazing story. Danny has two children (12, 10) and has been married to his lovely bride for 17 years.