23rd December 2025

What The Shepherds Saw

Now there were in the same country shepherds

living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:8 

Today's Bible Reading: Luke 2:8–14.

That night in Bethlehem, a group of humble shepherds were doing what they always did—keeping watch over their flocks. They were ordinary men in an ordinary field, yet God chose them to witness the most extraordinary event in history: the birth of His Son. In the stillness of the night, heaven broke into their world, and the shepherds saw three wonderful things.

First: They Saw God’s Glory - “The glory of the Lord shone around them” (v 9). The brilliance of God’s presence illuminated the darkness. What had once been an ordinary night became a moment filled with divine light. When God reveals His glory, even the routine things become radiant.

Second: They Saw God’s Message The angel declared, “I bring you good tidings of great joy… For there is born to you this day… a Saviour” (v 10–11). Heaven’s message was one of peace and joy, not fear. The shepherds learned that God’s good news is meant for all people—even those society overlooks.

Third: They Saw the Saviour - They hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby “lying in a manger” (v 16). What they saw was simple—a newborn child—but their hearts recognised something eternal: Christ the Lord. In Jesus, they saw God’s promise fulfilled.

Like the shepherds, we are called to look beyond the ordinary and see God at work. When His glory shines into our lives, our fears can turn to faith, and our hearts to worship. May we, too, seek the Saviour, share the good news, and glorify God for all we’ve seen and heard.

Prayer:  Father, God, open my eyes to see Your glory, my heart to hear Your good news, and my life to share the joy of the Lord Jesus with others. In His name. Amen.