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The Shepherds at Christmas Time

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(Luke 2:20)

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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Bethlehem was a very small and silent village.

Bethlehem was also the hometown of the great King David.

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One day, many people suddenly came to this silent town.

The inns in Bethlehem quickly filled up with lots of people.

Bethlehem became filled with liveliness.

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During that time, Rome ruled over Judah.

The Emperor of Rome ordered all the people to return to their hometowns and register. All the people born in Bethlehem had to return there.

So that is why many people suddenly came to Bethlehem.

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Near this Bethlehem, there were shepherds.

The shepherds took care of the sheep.

They should watch over the sheep so they could only watch the happenings in Bethlehem from afar.

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At night, wild animals would show up so the shepherds wouldn't leave their sheep to protect them.

So the shepherds couldn't sleep at their homes.

They slept together with the flocks of sheep.

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That night, these shepherds saw a very surprising scene.

Suddenly, the sky became bright and angels with very shiny clothes appeared in front of them. They were so surprised and scared. They trembled in fear.

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The angels told them, "Don't be afraid.

We have brought good news for all the people living in this world."

Only then, did the shepherds calm down to pay attention to the words of angels.

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"Today, in the town of David, Christ has been born for you. He is the Savior. He will save you. If you will go down to the town now, you will see a baby wrapped in cloths." The angels came to tell the shepherds that a baby who would save the whole world was born in Bethlehem, the town of David, that night.

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After telling the good news, the angels started to sing praises.

"Glory to God in the highest place. On earth, peace to the people whom God is glad with." After praising, the angels left the shepherds and disappeared into the sky.

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Then, the shepherds talked to each other.

"Quick, let us go to Bethlehem. Let us go and see if it is true that the Savior is born." The shepherds hurried and ran to Bethlehem.

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They went to the place where the angels had told them.

In that place, like what the angels had said, one baby was lying in the manger.

What the angels had told them was true so the shepherds felt amazed.

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Then the shepherds told Jesus' parents what the angels had told them.

After hearing it, Joseph and Mary were very surprised.

Joseph and Mary kept those words deep inside their hearts.

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The shepherds were very happy and returned back to their flocks.

They were so thankful that the angels had appeared and told this surprising news to ordinary people like them so on the way going back, they praised and glorified God.

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Just like this, Jesus came to this world to save us.

Jesus was born in a very humble place and Jesus appeared first to the people who were socially poor and low. This is proof showing that Jesus came to this world to save people who are low and ignorant like us.

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Jesus is God but Jesus came down to this world for low and ignorant people. Since we are believers of Jesus, let us also follow how Jesus came to this world. Like Jesus, we should try hard to become faithful people who can give comfort and happiness to those people who are having a difficult time.