Baby Jesus and the Shepherds
(See Luke 2:1-20)
Clop-clop-clop, the little donkey's feet made a loud noise on the cobblestone streets of the little town.
"We are in Bethlehem at last", said Joseph, walking beside the donkey. "The city of David is full of travelers. The governor's order that each must come to city of his fathers to be taxed makes it very crowded here."
Mary did not said anything. She was tired. The trip from Nazareth has seemed very long. Joseph led the way to a house which kept guests. The innkeeper met him at the gate.
"There is no more room," said the inkeeper.
Joseph looked at the inkeeper. "Isn't ther some place where we can rest?" asked Joseph. "My wife is very tired"
The inkeeper thought. "There is a stable where the animals are. You may make yourselves a place to rest there."
Joseph and Mary were glad for even the stable. They ate some of t he food that Mary had prepared for the trip. As the night grew dark they rested in the stable in Bethlehem.
Out in the fields some shepherdsgathered their flocks of sheep together and watched them as they settled down for the night. The shepherds talked quitley. They spoke of the many travelers whom would be able to pay the new taxes. Some spoke of the wonderful day when the Messiah would come to rule his people.
Suddenly there was a strange, bright light. The shepherds looked up. They were afraid. There was an angel. The angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a great number of angels praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, good will to men."
Then the angels were gone. The shepherds looked at one another. One said, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
They hurried away. They found Joseph and Mary and the baby, Jesus, who had come to Mary that night. The shepherds told Mary and Joseph all the things the angel had said.
The shepherds went back to their flocks praising God for all they had heard and seen about the baby in a manger.
Story and image taken from the book "Stories of Jesus for Boys and Girls", by Ethel M. Phillips; 1948.
