“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 shepherd said to them.” Luke 2:17, 18
Another Christmas has come and gone. This one may have been different than any you’ve experienced. It may have been better than usual, or it may have been the worst Christmas you’ve had. Regardless of your experiences in celebrating Christmas, it doesn’t change the fact of what Christmas is all about. Even if this Christmas season was difficult for you, it’s still the celebration of Jesus leaving His home in heaven and taking on human flesh. Why did He do that? For you and for me! Because of His love for us. So that we can be reconciled with God. Of course, His birth was just the beginning. We now know about His ministry culminating in His death and His resurrection. We have so much to celebrate!
What about the people during Jesus’ time? They didn’t know the rest of the story like we do. What was their response to this event? Mary and Zechariah both sang hymns of praise that are recorded in Scripture. They are there for us so we are able to join them in their praises to God. Joseph obeyed. Too often, I think that if I just obey God, then everything will be smooth and easy for me. It sure wasn’t for Joseph. His obedience led him down a path of being socially ostracized and even having to flee a murderous ruler. The wise men brought Him valuable, expensive gifts. Simeon prophesied about the future of this little baby. All of these responses help us understand more fully what happened in that time and place.
But then there were the shepherds. They didn’t sing or write beautiful hymns of praise. They probably didn’t even know how to write. They didn’t bring expensive gifts. They were so poor, they wouldn’t have had anything to bring. God didn’t give them a prophesy to proclaim. So what was their response? They told everyone they met. They didn’t have fancy words or deep wisdom. They only knew what they had seen, knew that it was pretty incredible, and knew that others needed to know about it. So they told them.
Of all the people in the Christmas story, I relate most with the shepherds. I’ve never had an angel give me a message like Mary and Joseph did, I don’t have the intelligence of the wise men who were seeking this new King, I don’t have the wisdom of Simeon who was waiting and looking for God’s promise to be fulfilled. I just go about my own business, and suddenly God steps in and reminds me that He’s right there with me. He has a plan for me and for this world. That plan is being worked out by Him and in His timing. And He invites me to see how He’s working out that plan. My response should be the same as the shepherds. I should tell everyone I meet. Scripture says that all who heard the shepherds were amazed. I find it hard to believe that everyone expressed that amazement, though. I’m sure there was also ridicule and disbelief. But that didn’t stop the shepherds from telling what they knew to be true. Will it stop me? Or will I continue to spread the word, giving hope to all that they, too can meet this baby, their Savior?