Of Angels and Shepherds
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| The angel visits the shepherds (picture -travelwithtraverse) |
Would you be afraid if an angel suddenly appeared to you and your friends? Most of us would be afraid, because we have never experienced anything like that ever! Well that is exactly what happened to some shepherds the night that baby Jesus was born. The shepherds were about to have a big huge surprise! The shepherds were out in the fields taking care of their sheep. For them, the night began in an ordinary way, just like every other night. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them in the night sky. I think it would have been very bright, don't you? The shepherds were very afraid. But the angel said "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." (NKJV) ( Notice that the angel gives the shepherds a sign - the sign is that they will find baby Jesus in a manger.)
Suddenly many more angels joined the angel and together they praised God with these words "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!" (KJV)
Then as quickly as the angels had come, they went back to heaven again. The shepherds looked at each other and decided that they would go to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. They knew that God had sent the angels to them for this very reason. God wanted the shepherds to be the first to visit his Son, the baby Jesus. The shepherds hurried to the village of Bethlehem to the stable where baby Jesus was born. There they found Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus sleeping in the manger. The sign the angel gave them was there just exactly as the angel had said - baby Jesus was wrapped in soft cloths and lying in the manger.
After the shepherds left the manger, they went back to take care of their sheep. They were so happy and excited that Jesus our Savior had been born, they told everyone they met that they had seen the baby Jesus. They explained how the angel had announced his birth to them. They praised God for all that He had showed to them and because all that the angel had said was exactly true.
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| The Shepherds visit Baby Jesus ( picture -becuo.com ) |
Discussion:
Why do you think God would send the angels to the shepherds? God wanted ordinary people to be the first to see baby Jesus. He wanted ordinary people like you and me to tell our friends about Jesus. God wants us to tell others about all the great and wonderful things He has done. We are His messengers of the Good news that Jesus is our Savior. We can share the good news with our neighbors and friends, in school and everywhere we go.Jesus is with us, He cares for us just like the shepherds cared for their sheep.
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