The Cradle And The Cross

The shepherds could have made excuses why they couldn't seek the Christ Child. Maybe they couldn't leave the sheep or it was too late or too far. But they didn't because they couldn't wait to see Jesus.

Luke ;16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe laying in a manger.

No excuse is good enough to keep you from jesus. If you want to come to Him, He will provide somebody to watch your sheep until you return. If you want to come to Christ, you  must come come exactly as you are.

The shepherds knew Old Testament prophecy of the coming Messiah. They knew the cradle wasn't seperated from the cross, and that it was God's plan to redeem the lost. 

1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

If you find yourself a sinner, the cradle and the crtoss is a promise given to you. 

This is "good tidings of great joy". This is eternal life.