Written ~ 12-27-2023
Luke 2:15-20
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
When the shepherds decided to go into Bethlehem to find this newborn baby, do you think it was easy for them to find the right stable? I wonder sometimes if they had to knock on several doors before they found the one they were looking for, the one that had a baby snuggled tightly in a manger. What do you think was going through the minds of Joseph and Mary? In verse 2:8 is says, “That night there were shepherds staying in a field…” This would have been the night of Christ’s birth. Then right after the angels returned to Heaven, in verse 2:16 it says, “They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And the baby, lying in a manger.” Was it the middle of the night when the shepherds came to that stable? Was it in those wee early morning hours? Would their arrival be abrupt and startling? It’s possible with the adrenaline pumping through their veins after seeing a vast army of angels that it would have propelled them forward not realizing the hour. All they knew was that they needed to see Jesus. And there He was. Did they all talk at once telling Joseph and Mary what had happened? Did they try to explain the vastness of the army of angels that had appeared before them?
What do we do with the knowledge that there is a Heavenly King who came to earth as a baby who would one day bring Salvation to the world? Do we have the sense of urgency to find out more? Do we go searching for the One named Jesus? Like those shepherds, do we drop everything and go? Do we seek the Lord with all our hearts? Verse 2:17, tells us that after the shepherds saw the Lord they began telling everyone around what had happened and exactly who that little baby was laying in that manger. Verse 2:18 says, “All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished…” I’m sure that little town of Bethlehem was a buzz as people were waking up and hearing the story the shepherds were proclaiming. And then in verse 2:19 it says, “…but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often…”
I’m sure this young woman, looking down at her newborn, pondered over all that the angel Gabriel had told her months before and now the shepherds in their excitement confirmed that this tiny baby of hers was something very special. Luke 1:37 says, “For the Word of God will never fail…” As the shepherds left glorifying and praising God, they too marveled over the fact that “…It was just as the angel had told them…” (Verse 2:20)
If we also take to heart that God’s Word never fails and that the angel of the Lord said exactly what was going to happen, shouldn’t you and I proclaim the birth of Jesus and tell everyone what His purpose was for coming to earth?
Let’s all set our sights on Heaven and tell others about Christ. Salvation is near!
~AMEN~