“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2.15-20
Yesterday was Christmas. It seems to sneak up on me every year. Although I really only shop for my wife, as she handles the rest of the present buying, decorations and family gatherings, it comes and goes so quickly that I hardly have time to soak it in. Our culture makes such a big deal about the holiday that Jesus almost gets lost in the manger.
On this day after Christmas, it’s good to remember what the shepherds did upon hearing from the angels about the child. They went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, “and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” When they “had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” They came, they saw, and they shared.
The shepherds were not great evangelists and neither are most of us. They weren’t trained at the Billy Graham School for Faith Sharing (just made up that name)- but they had first hand experience and were one hundred percent qualified to tell, from their own perspective, what they saw and heard. And we are no different. Those of us who have seen and heard have a story to tell. Your story about meeting and walking with Christ is different than my story. When I met Jesus on a mountain in Colorado thirty-seven years ago in 1986, that was uniquely my encounter with Christ. He invaded my heart and has been with me since.
But the story isn’t just enough to hear, we must also share. Our encouragement with God must be told. Jesus’ mother Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart,” but the shepherds “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Let’s be like the shepherds, let’s tell the story of the birth of the Messiah.
And even though Christmas is technically finished, the season of Christmas-tide in the church liturgy continues. We are to continue celebrating, sharing, and communicating the love of Christ for weeks to come.
With whom will you share the story of the birth of Christ today? Have you received his gift of salvation? Have you offered this gift to others?
“O Lord God, I celebrate your goodness and grace. Thank you for coming as an infant, living a life as a human, dying and rising again so the world might find hope, love and grace in your name. Come now, Lord Jesus, return to your people. Welcome us home! Save us once again. Help us find truth in your word. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen