Daily Bible Reading 28th March 2026 // Luke 2:8-20
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
There is a symbolism again at work in the response that the shepherds made to the message of the angels, for their reaction surely shows 'the one right thing to do' when the gospel is heard. They came to Jesus - what many have never yet done: 'Let us now go even unto Bethlehem...' Why do men not come to Christ? Is it because Bethlehem is the lowly place, and they have to stoop to come to Him? Also, they came with haste. This reflects the urgency of the gospel message, in all the New Testament. 'Let us now go…There is no time to lose. Now, rather than later, that is the gospel summons: 'Today, if ye will near His voice...' It is something that the New Testament can never understand, that men who know in their head and heart that the gospel is the hope of mankind and are intellectually convinced that it is the answer to their personal lives should put off the decisive encounter that would lead them into life. One can only conclude that it is a work of satanic deception so to hinder them.
There is one further lesson to be drawn from these verses: the results of the good news. Faith was born in the shepherds' hearts - before, be it noted, ever they saw the Infant Saviour. 'Let us see this thing that is come to pass'. They believed the word of the angels. Faith cometh by hearing. And faith for them was rewarded by sight. And thus they went away rejoicing. It was good news to them. Christmas has happened to them! And forthwith they began to witness. They could not keep it quiet. It was a day of good tidings, and they could not hold their peace. How much they have to teach us!