Bethlehem Night

The shepherds were out in the fields watching their sheep as was their usual custom at night, when an angel of the Lord appeared to them. This frightened the shepherds as they were not used to hanging out with heavenly hosts. The angel told them to not be afraid. He had Good News of Great Joy! That news would be for everyone. The angel told the shepherds that in the nearby town of Bethlehem, the city of David, a child had been born who was the Savior. He is Messiah -- Christ. Then the angel gave them a sign of how to find him. The angel said the baby would be wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. After this announcment, a host of angels appeared and praised God saying " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

The shepherds must have thought they were dreaming. Upon recognizing this was no dream, they determined to go to Bethlehem and find Messiah. They did not saunter into Bethlehem, they ran. The text tells us they "hurried". The shepherds were excited that a Savior had been born and they ran too see him. They found him right where the Lord had told them He'd be, in a manger. The shepherds were breathless at the sight of Jesus and because they ran all the way from the fields to find Him. They were so excited they could not contain themselves. They had seen Messiah and they had to tell someone, so they went immediately and spread the the news of the birth of the Savior. Those they told were amazed at what they heard.