15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:15-20 KJV)
The Shepherds Visited Baby Jesus
When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about” (Luke 2:15). They didn’t doubt the message but acted on it. When visions end, we must make the most of the means we have to strengthen our faith. Seeking confirmation through observation is no dishonor to a divine testimony.
They went quickly and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger, just as the angel had said (Luke 2:16). Christ’s poverty did not weaken their faith, for they themselves were familiar with humble circumstances and had known God’s presence even there. The shepherds likely told Mary and Joseph about the angels’ message and song, which would have greatly encouraged them. And Joseph and Mary may have shared their own divine revelations, strengthening each other’s faith through shared experiences.
After seeing the child, the shepherds shared the news widely (Luke 2:17). Though they saw nothing extraordinary in the child Himself, the sign had been fulfilled exactly as the angel said, and that satisfied them. Like the lepers in 2 Kings 7:9, they knew they couldn’t keep such good news to themselves. They told everyone what the angels had said, and what Mary and Joseph had confirmed—that this child was the Savior, the Christ, the Lord; that in Him is peace on earth; and that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Everyone they told heard the same report.
People who heard it were amazed (Luke 2:18). The shepherds were honest, unpretentious men, and no one would suspect them of lying. So, if their report was true, it was astonishing: the Messiah born in a stable, angels announcing it to shepherds instead of priests. But their amazement stopped there. They didn’t ask further about who this Savior was or what He meant for them. They quickly moved on, treating it like a passing curiosity. What blindness! No wonder the things that would bring them peace were hidden from them—they chose to ignore them.
But those who believed responded differently. Mary quietly treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19). She reflected on them, storing them for the future, comparing them with what God would later reveal. She didn’t seek to defend or promote herself. If no one else recognized the significance of her child’s birth, she was content that the angels did. The truths of Christ are worth preserving, and the best way to preserve them is through meditation. Reflection helps us remember.
The shepherds, meanwhile, openly praised God. Others might not have been moved, but they were (Luke 2:20). They returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God, joining the angels in thanksgiving. Whether people listened or not, they rejoiced in what they had heard and seen—the baby lying in the manger, just as the angel had said. They were thankful to see Christ, even in such humble circumstances. As the cross would later be a stumbling block to some, so now was the manger; but others saw in it the wisdom and power of God, and praised Him for it.