“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. …The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:15b-16, 20).
What did the shepherds see? What will you and I see as we join them around the manger?
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then the shepherds saw what their hearts and minds were looking for. And that is exactly what you and I will see in this Christmas. We are going to see only that for which we are hoping and looking for. If God’s special message had not come to the shepherds from those singing angels, if they had not seen them, nor heard and believed their message, then what they saw in Bethlehem would have been entirely meaningless.
Let us suppose that the shepherds just happened to be passing through Bethlehem, taking their sheep to the sheepfold, and they passed by the stable where Mary and Joseph were busy with the birth of Jesus. Without the previous knowledge given them by the angels, they would have seen only a messy birth scene, and maybe commenting, “Oh my, what a poor girl. She didn’t make it to her home. Too bad. I hope everything goes alright for them. She seems so young.”
That is all they would have seen. But because they heard and understood the angels’ message, they saw and knew that much more was happening in this birth scene that night. Having seen, and understanding what they saw, they got excited and “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:17-18).
The angels looked and participated in the first Christmas event joyously, celebrating God’s humble incarnation of himself, saying “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Why? Because they saw and understood that this event was in God’s great plan for mankind’s redemption and reconciliation. From their heavenly perspective they saw and knew that God Himself had come down in human flesh to redeem mankind. No wonder they exploded through the dark night with glorious light and praises to announce the awesome event.
Mary and Joseph experienced the event with much wondering and amazement. They saw and believed much that they did not fully understand. Think of their faith in God. Both heard from an angel regarding this birth and they dared to believe the message. Both submitted to receiving this gift of giving birth to the Savior of the world. They saw, heard, believed, and now humbly held God’s promised savior in their arms. Their feelings that night were wondrously indescribable coupled with puzzling amazement. The scriptures tell us that “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Why me? Why us? How is this possible? What happens next?
Simeon looked and saw this Christmas event prophetically. He had lived his life eagerly looking forward to this event. For years he has been reading the prophecy, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” And then one day as he enters the temple, he sees two young parents bringing their 8-day old newborn child to the temple to be circumcised and consecrated to the Lord. And in that moment, he sees, he believes, and knows this is God’s promised Messiah, the Savior for all mankind. He greets the young parents and then lifts that small bundle of human flesh toward heaven and praises God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.” (2:28-31).
Simeon, along with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and Anna the prophet who lived in the temple, saw more than just a small baby. They saw God’s gift of salvation for the world. How did they see all this? They saw because they heard, believed and were daily looking for God’s coming into the world of mankind.
Prayer: O Lord, open our eyes and ears to see and hear the angels’ glorious message to us, and then with the shepherds “go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” O God, as we gather with the shepherds around the manger, open our minds and hearts to believe and worship the Christ of Christmas, our Savior. May we better understand and know that this child born in Bethlehem gives birth to Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love, which is so desperately needed in our life and todays world of much darkness. Amen!
<><><><><><><>
“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – 12/16/20
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
Leave a comment