“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:8-14

When Messiah Jesus was born and laid in a manger, an angel announced His birth to shepherds living in a field nearby and keeping watch over their flock by night. The heavenly messenger brought them good tidings of great joy for all people; for that very day in Bethlehem, the city of David, a Savior was born, the Messiah, the LORD Himself in human flesh.

And, as the angel choir said in their hymn of praise, this child brought about peace between God and man and God’s good will toward sinful man; for Christ Jesus satisfied the righteous demands of God’s holy law for us, and He suffered and died and paid in full the just punishment for the sins of the world!
The shepherds were not content to go back to their work of guarding the flock; they went to see the things of which the angel told them. And, they found it just as the angel had said. They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Nor did the shepherds keep the good news to themselves; they told everyone – they made known abroad – what the angel had told them concerning this child born in Bethlehem. Mary herself treasured up the words of the shepherds concerning her son and pondered them in her heart. When the Shepherds returned to their flock, they were glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, which was just as the angel had told them. They were rejoicing in God’s gift of a Savior who would redeem them and give them a place in God’s eternal kingdom.

His birth is still good tidings of great joy today, for He is the long-promised Messiah, the LORD God Himself; and He went to the cross for the sins of the world – for the sins of each of us – and He rose again in victory that each and every one of us might have forgiveness for all our sins and life eternal through faith in Him!

O dearest Jesus, we thank You for coming into this world a true man – that babe born in Bethlehem – and going to the cross to redeem us and make us Your own. Move us to take the time to see, to worship and to spread abroad the good news of Your salvation. Amen.

[Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]