Good news for the shepherds

Luke 2:1-20

To help the children express the joy of knowing that Jesus came to save each person.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11, NIV*).

During the Christmas season, children receive many messages that encourage selfishness and materialism. Sometimes even well intentioned adults fall into the consumerism of this time by asking, “What do you want for Christmas?” Your children should know that for Christians, Christmas is the time to give and share, not to desire and obtain.

Elementary-aged children identify easily with the shepherds of this story. Often they also feel on the outside, and may not have money to buy gifts for others. However, they will learn that as soon as the shepherds heard the Good News, they went to see the baby Jesus. Then, with great joy, they told everyone about the great gift of God. Help your children understand that, even if they do not have great gifts, the most important thing they can give to others is the Good News of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

Read Luke 2:1-20. The Son of the Most High, Jesus the King, began his earthly life wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. In contrast to this humble birth, the heavens were full of angels who sang praises and celebrated the arrival of the Messiah.

Those angels, appearing to humble shepherds who cared for their flocks, announced to them the Good News of the birth of Christ.

In the Roman Empire, it was customary for poets and orators to announce peace and prosperity when the emperor’s son was born. In the same way, through the heavenly hosts, God announced that his Son, the Savior of the world, had been born in Bethlehem for the rejoicing of humanity.

Shepherds are an important part of this story, not only because through them we relate Jesus to King David, who was also a shepherd (2 Samuel 7:8), but also because they are among the poor, maimed, lame and blind who are invited to the kingdom of God (Luke 14:13-21).

God chose these humble men to be witnesses of the birth of the Messiah, and then they would tell others this Good News. The Bible tells us that “the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20).

Ask the children: “What do you think of when people ask ‘What do you want for Christmas?’” (allow several responses) Then say: “During the Christmas season, children receive many messages that encourage selfishness and materialism. Sometimes even well intentioned adults fall into the consumerism of this time by asking, ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ We should know that for Christians, Christmas is the time to give and share, not to desire and obtain.”

Shepherds receive Good News

“This is terrible!” exclaimed Joseph. “So many people came to Bethlehem to fulfill the order of the governor that there is nowhere to spend the night. All the inns are full!”

Mary sighed. She was so tired from the long trip they had made. Suddenly, she said, “Look, I see a light in that window. Maybe there is a room for us there.”

“I doubt it,” said Joseph.

“Please, Joseph, try it. I’m very tired and we need a place where we can sleep.”

Joseph went to ask, but there was also no room available at that inn.

Joseph and Mary walked away slowly.

“They look so tired,” the innkeeper thought. “I feel bad for them. Maybe I can find a way to help them.”

“Wait a moment!” the innkeeper shouted. “I have a stable in the back. Maybe you could spend the night there, although it is just a stable. There is clean straw where you can rest.”

“If it is warm and dry, we’ll be fine,” Joseph replied. “My wife is very tired and needs a place to sleep.”

That night was very special because Jesus was born. Mary wrapped her little baby in cloth and lulled him to sleep. In the stable, there was no cradle for Jesus, but Joseph put clean straw in the manger, the place where they put food for the animals.

On the outskirts of Bethlehem, there was a group of shepherds in the field, taking care of their sheep.

“The sky is clear tonight. How the stars shine!” said a shepherd.

“Look!” exclaimed another, pointing to the sky. “See that bright light there?”

“What could it be?” they asked each other in amazement.

“It is an angel!” the shepherds exclaimed. “He is an angel of God!”

The angel told them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News that will be a great joy to all the people. Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born, who is Christ the Lord. You will find him lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.”

Suddenly, the sky was filled with angels who sang: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will towards men!”

“Did you hear that?” a shepherd asked.

“Of course!” answered another. “It is the most wonderful news I’ve ever heard! It is happened as the prophets announced.”

“Then let’s go to Bethlehem to see that which God has announced to us,” one of them suggested, and the others agreed.

The shepherds went quickly to Bethlehem, and there they found the baby in the manger, just as the angel had told them.

“It is true. Everything was fulfilled as the angel announced. He is the Messiah!” they repeated to each other.

The shepherds were very joyful, and they told the Good News of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, to all the people they met.

Peace to the World!
Ask some volunteers to tell some portion of the story. Encourage them to tell others the Good News of the birth of the Messiah.

Find the Good News
Tell the children: "When the shepherds heard the Good News of the birth of Jesus, they ran to Bethlehem to meet the new born baby. After seeing Jesus, they told everyone about this event. You can also help others know the Good News, telling them that the reason for Christmas is to celebrate that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to save us."

Ask the children: “What ways do you identify with the shepherds of this story? Do you also feel on the outside, and may not have money to buy gifts for others?” (allow the children time to respond) Then say: “We learn in today’s lesson that as soon as the shepherds heard the Good News, they went to see the baby Jesus. Then, with great joy, they told everyone about the great gift of God. We need to understand that, even if we do not have great gifts, the most important thing we can give to others is the Good News of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.”