Verses 15-20 “15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
It must have been an encouragement to Mary and Joseph when the shepherds came so quickly to see the Christ because they came rejoicing, rejoiced throughout the visit, and rejoiced after they returned to their flocks. These shepherds wasted no time, but obeyed the Lord’s command without delay. They said one to another, “Let us go NOW….” Not, Let us go tomorrow. Not, Let us go when it is convenient. Nor even, Let us go when we can find someone to watch our flock, lest the wild dogs come. We read that, “They came with haste.” And they were rewarded for their obedience as they were the first humans after Mary and Joseph to see the Christ. They found everything as the angels had said. And after their visit they made hast to evangelize others, for “They made known abroad” all that they had heard and seen concerning Jesus. We should be so obedient to our heavenly calling, our commission to “go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.”