“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” Luke 2:16-17 (KJV)
Those shepherds had seen miraculous events in the heavens. An angel had spoken with them. An angelic choir had praised God in front of them. They had been given a sign for finding the Savior. Then all was quiet in the fields that night, while they pondered what they had seen and heard.
And suddenly the gravity of the angel’s message became crystal clear. The Savior had been born somewhere in Bethlehem. They had heard about this day – had been taught that it was coming – since they could first understand words. And now it was here! The day they had looked for so long had finally arrived.
We are not told what happened to their sheep. Perhaps they left them to fend for themselves. Perhaps they left younger shepherds there to watch over the sheep, we simply do not know. It is not pertinent to the story. We do know that some of the shepherds quickly left the sheep and went looking for the new born Savior.
We are not told how these searching shepherds finally found Mary and Joseph with their new born son. We may conclude that they searched all the places in Bethlehem where one could expect to find a manger and items used in the care of animals. But we do know that these shepherds were successful in their search and found the Savior as they had been told.
Most church Christmas programs end with the shepherds finding the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in the manger. And many will often add the wise men from the east who also found the child. But that is not the end of a search for the Savior.
These shepherds left the manger scene and began relating their experience to everyone they met. This story shows how those who search for him do find him. But the story doesn’t end with finding him. It continues as those who find the Savior go and tell others how they were out in the fields, but God’s messenger appeared to them and directed them to the Savior. “And you can find him too!”
Dear Father, thank you for leading us to the Savior. Empower us with such joy and excitement about our personal discovery that we will also tell others of his saving grace. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN
Be encouraged today and tell others about the Savior,