Friday, December 19, 2008
Luke 2:15-18 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
LET'S GO TO BETHLEHEM -- WITH THE SHEPHERDS
It surely wasn't the first time they had gone to Bethlehem. No doubt these men, though most familiar with the fields, knew their way around the city of David. Just because they spent most of their time with the sheep doesn't mean they didn't also spend time with fellow human beings.
But their purpose in coming to town was far from ordinary that first Christmas Eve. They hadn't planned to make the trip. They weren't looking for feed for the sheep. They were following up on a Word of God. So, it was really God who sent them to town.
It wasn't that they doubted the word of the angels. Rather, they were certain that the event had come to pass, just as they had been told. To find the child they had only to follow the signs.
They did, and they found Him of whom the angels sang. But they didn't just head back out to the fields after they saw the Child Jesus. They made a point of telling others in Bethlehem (and beyond?) all the things they had been told about him. Their message wasn't merely about the angels, but about Him of whom the angels sang! And those who heard were amazed.
If the Shepherds, equipped with the simple Word, could be so bold, then so can we! There is more to be told than that He was born. He lived, and died and rose again to reconcile us to God!
People today won't always be amazed; not everyone will be overcome by the Gospel of Christ. But that's not why we speak, is it? We direct people to Bethlehem, to Calvary and to Christ because He rules and reigns from the throne of our hearts.
Let's go to Bethlehem and then tell others all about His birth -- and what happened afterward.
