The Shepherds Tell Everyone about the Baby
Today’s Passage: Luke 2:15–20
Focus Verse: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. (Luke 2:17)
After sharing the astounding news of Jesus’s arrival with the shepherds, the angels leave. Amazed by the experience, the shepherds discuss what happened. They’ve never experienced anything like this before and don’t know anyone else who has either.
As they consider what has just occurred, they decide they should go to Bethlehem to check out what the angels told them.
They have only two clues. The first is that the baby is in the town of David, which they know to mean Bethlehem (1 Samuel 17:12).
It’s nearby. The other is that the baby will be using a manger—an animal feeding trough—for a bed. This suggests that he’ll be in a barn, an open-sided shed, or even outside in a corral and not in a house or inn.
We don’t know how long it takes the shepherds to get to Bethlehem, only that it’s nearby.
We also don’t know how long they must search before they find baby Jesus. But once they see a child wrapped in cloths and lying in the manger, they have no doubt who it is. It’s exactly as the angel explained.
We also don’t know how long they stay with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. But when they leave, they tell others. And what a story they have to share: the angel’s message, the heavenly host praising God, and finding the baby who will save their nation.
He’s the Messiah they’ve been expecting, the Lord.
Luke writes that the people who hear the shepherds’ message are amazed.
While some could embrace this good news with relief and God-honoring astonishment, others might receive it with skepticism, declaring that it’s too improbable or that the shepherds aren’t credible witnesses.
Regardless, the shepherds create quite a stir as they spread word of Jesus’s arrival.
Then they return to their sheep, giving God glory and praise for what they’ve been told and have seen.
The shepherds provide us a good mode to follow when we discover something amazing about God through the Bible, the Holy Spirit, or other teachers.
First, we should investigate what we’ve heard (see Acts 17:11). Then, once we confirm it’s true, we should tell others about it; we spread the word. And we conclude by giving God glory and praise for it all.
The good news of Jesus is just as important today as it was when he arrived 2,000 years ago. May we follow the shepherds’ example and spread the word.
Questions:
Who can we tell about the good news of Jesus?
When have we last given God glory and praise for sending Jesus to earth to save us?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to earth as our Savior. Jesus, thank you for dying for our mistakes—our sins—to reconcile us with Father God.
[This devotional is taken from the December 24 reading from The Advent of Jesus.]
Celebrate Christmas in a fresh way with The Advent of Jesus. It’s a forty-day devotional that prepares our hearts to celebrate the arrival of Jesus in an engaging read. Begin your Advent journey now and gain a greater sense of wonder for the season.
The Advent of Jesus is part of the beloved Holiday Celebration Devotionals Series.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.