“This
will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and
lying in a manger." ... 15 When the angels had left them
and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to
Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made
known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and
Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw
this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and
all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. –Luke
2:12-18 (NRSV)
There is no mention made
of how they knew the location of the child, but there is speculation. Consider that the Passover lambs for the
temple sacrifice in Jerusalem were raised in Bethlehem. Is it a possibility there was a special
place they were kept? Is that feeding
trough the manger Jesus was laid in?
Wouldn’t that be interesting and just like God to orchestrate?
The shepherds were called and immediately responded in belief and
excitement. They found the Christ child living in humble conditions, yet this
was not anything they considered for they themselves were living in such
circumstance in a relationship with God.
Think about it: they had private time with Joseph and Mary... time to share God’s story from both
sides. They found the Christ, then went out
to tell everyone what they had seen and heard, glorifying and praising
God.
Is that how we respond when we are blessed with a revelation? Wow, it sure seems like a great example to
follow to keep our Christ alive in the hearts and minds of his people. “Excitement” and “Joy” = hash tag words for
the Christmas season.
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God of Good News, enliven our witness with
excitement and joy. Sharpen our focus
not on the ‘stuff’ of life, but on your living presence with us.
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