Good morning. As I have mentioned in our most recent thoughts for the day, I am directing this week’s thoughts to Luke 2.
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:15-20
How would the shepherds have felt when heaven disappeared? One moment, the skies of that dark night were filled with heavenly glory, with the voices of countless angels singing praise to God, singing of His glory, promising peace to all. In the next moment, they were gone. As suddenly as the first angel arrived, in an instant they were gone.
Shepherds would have made sure that their sheep were cared for, it was more than their job, it was who they were. Some of them would have been left behind. The youngest perhaps, or did they draw straws? It would have been difficult to be left behind on a night such as this.
Simple shepherds were now compelled to see for themselves what the angels revealed. It was from the Lord, there was no doubt of that. They had to see, they had to know. We can only imagine their excitement at being the first to witness these marvelous things.
They hurried into Bethlehem; their only clue was that the Messiah was now a baby in a manger. “The stables!” they shouted, “He must be in the stables!” and in the stables they found Him. Imagine the smile on Joseph’s face when the shepherds excitedly told them what the angels had said. Their news wasn’t new to Joseph and Mary. They didn’t stay long because God had impressed upon their hearts a new task: to go, to tell, to shout, to share. Let it be known to all that the angels had come, and let it be clear what those angels had said! “To us, on this night, in Bethlehem, our Messiah is born!
The first evangelists had quite a message, and those that heard it wondered at their words. I am sure that there was no doubt that the shepherds believed every word that they spoke. Could it be? Could the Messiah be lying in a manger? Could that very young and very pregnant girl whom we turned away be nursing the child of God?
Yes.
Vern