SPECIAL NIGHT FOR SOME SHEPHERDS - 2

Luke 2:8-20

The shepherds in the Bethlehem area were very privileged - - - we may wonder why they were chosen to be witnesses, as they were. No answer is given to our curiosity.

No sooner had the heavenly visitors taken leave when their minds took on a great desire to: ". . . go . . . and see, this thing which is come to pass, . . .", 15. There was no debate, and no second thoughts - - - they purposed to go, and at that time! It was a matter of first things first. They, nor I, had ever heard of an announcement such as this. They had not been told to go at this time - - - but they felt the deep down urge to go, and that hastily.

The record says ". . . they came with haste, . . .". The city was not far away, but was filled to overflowing, however, they ". . . found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe . . .", 16. One would not expect such a dignitary as the Messiah to be found in a manger - - - but He was. ". . . There was no room for them in the inn.", 7. The "inn", as it is called here, is from the same word as "guest chamber" in Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11.

There is an old adage which says "seeing is believing". That seems to be the case here - - - the record says "and when they had seen it, . . ." they acted. In their actions they give us a pattern for each of us who know Jesus as our Saviour: namely, they told what they knew to be a fact.

In their witnessing, 17, they told of the ". . . Saviour which is Christ the Lord.", 11. The angel of the Lord had previously told Joseph to give the child a name: ". . . thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.", 1:21. Thus, He is the Saviour. Then, and now, and realms beyond. Doubtless, they told those they met in the fields as well as those in the crowded city. It would be an experience not soon to be forgotten.

Those who heard of their experience:". . . wondered at these things which were told them by the shepherds.", 18. This word rendered "wondered" is also translated "marvel at". Today we would say they were 'amazed'.

The shepherds return to the flocks in a worshipful frame of mind.They were ". . . glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, . . .", 20. For surely it was ". . . as it was told unto them." They were faithful in their calling, ARE WE? DDH.