Light in the WaitingThe Shepherds Find Baby Jesus
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What is the best good news you have ever heard, and who did you tell first?
The illustrated story
Listen to the story
Read aloud with a generated voice, so little ones can follow along.
Read the story
It was the night Jesus was born. Out on the dark hills near Bethlehem, a group of shepherds had been watching their sheep when an angel appeared and the glory of God shone all around them.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2:11
Then a whole crowd of angels filled the sky, praising God. And then, just as suddenly, they were gone. The night was quiet again. The sheep blinked in the dark.
The shepherds looked at one another. “Let’s go to Bethlehem,” they said, “and see this wonderful thing God has told us about!”
They did not wait. They grabbed their staffs and hurried over the hills toward the little town. The stars were out and the night was still, but their hearts were racing with excitement.
The angel had told them how to find the baby. “You will find Him wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” So they searched until they found the place. And there, just as the angel had said, were Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus, lying in a manger full of hay.
The shepherds knelt down and looked at the baby with wonder and joy. This tiny baby was the Savior God had promised so long ago.
Then the shepherds told Mary and Joseph everything the angel had said about this child. Mary listened carefully. She kept all these things in her heart and thought about them again and again.
When the shepherds left, they could not keep the good news to themselves. They told everyone they met about the baby they had seen, and all who heard it were amazed.
Then the shepherds went back to their fields and their sheep, glorifying and praising God. Everything had happened just as they had been told.
God sent the first Christmas news to ordinary shepherds working through the night. The good news of Jesus is for everyone, and like the shepherds, we can share it with joy.
What we learn
Jesus is God's good news for everyone. We can come to Him with joy and tell others about Him.
Family prayer
Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus, our Savior. Fill our hearts with joy and help us share the good news with others. Amen.
A verse to remember
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
Luke 2:11
Say it together a few times, then see who can say it alone.
Talk about it together
- Why did the shepherds hurry to Bethlehem?
- What did they find when they arrived?
- How can we share the good news about Jesus?
Read it in the Bible: Luke 2:8–20.
Questions or a message for us?
If you have a question about this story, or you would like to share how your family used it, write to [email protected]. We love hearing from readers.
