“Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15

 

INTRODUCTION: The shepherds played a significant part in the Christmas story long ago. They were going about their life as usual, watching their flocks at night, when suddenly an angel of the Lord broke into their world. The glory shone all around them, and they were terrified! Wouldn’t you be? What in the world was happening? Their fears subsided when the angel spoke, “Do not be afraid because I’m bringing you good news and it is for ALL people.

            AFTER the shepherds heard the news about the Savior being born that day in Bethlehem, they did more than just hear and then promptly dismiss it from their thoughts. They discussed it among themselves and did some things, which apply to each of us today as well.

 

            1. Let’s Go and See: Once they heard the good news, they did something with it. There was nothing “ho hum” about what the angel said. What did the angel’s good news mean to them? How would it affect them personally? They were just ordinary shepherds—not kings or people of high position. The angel told them that the good news as for ALL people, and that meant them. With a heightened sense of excitement and determination, they rushed off to find the baby. They said, “Let’s go and see for ourselves.” Let us now go even to Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass which the Lord hath made known unto us shows simplicity of faith on their part. They do not say,”Let us go and see if this is true.” They have no misgivings. But rather they say, “Let us go and see this thing which is come to pass.”

            So much of the time we exclude ourselves from what is rightfully ours by saying, “I wonder if it is true, I wonder if that applies to me? or I don’t think that is for today. Or we might say, “I’m not worthy of that.” We exclude ourselves from the abundant life that Jesus came to bring. Throughout history, the good news has always been for EVERYONE including you and me. Once the good news comes to our ears, what do we do with it? Do we check it out and respond as the shepherds did? Do we “go and see” for ourselves? Or do we let it slip by us?

            Hebrews 2:1 says, “we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip… how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” (verse 3).

            We may excuse ourselves because we don’t understand what it all means, but we don’t bother to check it out. The shepherds didn’t understand it all but they said, “Let’s go and see.”

 

            2. They Hurried to Bethlehem: The shepherds did not wait until “someday maybe” to respond to the good news. Scripture says they “hurried to Bethlehem.” They knew what they were looking for. The angel had given them a sign—there would be a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. The shepherds were intent on finding this baby who was to be the Savior of all humankind. It may have been difficult to comprehend the full extent of the angel’s message to them, but these ordinary shepherds began their journey toward Bethlehem walking in the light from the star.

            The shepherds did not allow anything to crowd out their journey to Bethlehem. It was at the top of their “Things to do List.”

            Perhaps, too often, we allow things to crowd out the good news when it comes to us. We never get a “round-to-it.” Many people never even START their journey of faith. Even though they have good intentions, the years go by and they are not any closer to taking action on the good news. Today at this advent season, let us take a look at where we are in our spiritual journey. Perhaps we, too, have allowed the noises and distractions of our life to crowd out the good news. We may be slow to start our journey in spite of the hope that initially springs up in our hearts. Let us be quick to respond to the good news and make our way toward Bethlehem and the Christ Child. Let us bring ourselves to Him as well as our gifts. We must do this before we can proclaim it to others.

 

            3. They Spread the News to Others: Once the shepherds found the baby Jesus, just as the angel had told them, they rejoiced and praised God. They were experiencing that day what had been promised for hundreds of years. These shepherds were changed people. They looked at everything differently, and they couldn’t keep such good news to themselves.

            What do you think the shepherds were most excited to tell others? There were a lot of things.  They probably told:

            1. about hearing the angels sing

            2. about seeing the newborn baby with their own eyes

            2. about God’s plan for their salvation

            4. that the angel’s words really were true

            5. that the wait for the Messiah was over

 

            “Did you hear what happened”” they asked. “Do you know what the angel told us?” They excitedly spread the good news to others as they made their way back home. In fact, they became the first evangelists of the Christian era. Luke’s observation that those who heard were “amazed” is the first of his many comments on the enthusiastic response to the Messianic proclamation.

            Do we share our faith with people around us or are we afraid we will “offend” people if we mention the Savior? It has been said, “Two things you don’t discuss are religion and politics.” I think this is true if you are going to argue about it. But we can tell people about “what the Lord has done for us personally. “I prayed about this need and here’s what happened.” Why are we hesitant to do this? Sometimes we fear what people will think of us. We say, “It’s a private matter,” or we say, “People will think I’m weird” if I tell them I prayed and God answered my prayer. We fear people will laugh at us so we keep quiet.

 

            STORY: A little boy went to camp. When he got home his mother asked, “What did your friends think when they found out you were a Christian?”

            He said, “Oh, they never found out. I didn’t tell them.”

 

            What if the shepherds had failed to proclaim what they had seen and heard? What if they had said, “Oh, it’s a private matter.”

            Sometimes it may be because we haven’t been praying much lately or because the good news has not been very exciting in our lives. We become impoverished in our souls and need renewal ourselves. In order to be excited about our “religion” we’ve got to have CHANGED LIVES—it is what has happened in your personal lives because of this event long ago. How has your life changed? How is the good news making a difference in your life on Monday morning? That is what we can share with others. Does it work for you? People look at some Christians and say, “If they are having such a hard life being a Christian I sure don’t want to be one.” What are we PROCLAIMING to people through the lives we live? Do they see the abundant, joyful, peaceful life that the shepherds proclaimed or are we so STRESSED OUT and in a bad mood all the time that our religion is just about killing us? There is a book called, “Contagious Christians.” One preacher said, “Our Christianity is better “felt” than “telt”. The shepherds had both. They “felt it” and “telt it.”

            Remember the shepherds. They were ordinary people who did extraordinary things once they heard the message because their lives were different now. Are we different? Can we spontaneously share the good news? At this Advent season, let the good news make a new impact on your lives. Let it soak into your spirits as you sing the songs of the season, as you pray, as you are surrounded by the evidence of the season.

 

            4.  They Returned to their Homes Rejoicing: Oh, yes, the shepherds returned to their homes and to the same old mundane jobs. They headed back to the routine of tending sheep in the cold fields surrounding Bethlehem. They patiently and faithfully watched their flocks. The joy of Christ’s birth did not fill them for just one day. It traveled with them into the cold, dark months and gave them hope for a lifetime

            For many in our age, Christmas is a one-day event. When we leave Bethlehem, we leave the Savior behind as well. Back to routine, back to the ordinary. Christmas is over for another year. The music stops, the lights go out, the decorations are packed away for another year. Glad to get it over with. Back to being our old selves. But wait a minute. The Savior lives—not just in a stable in Bethlehem, not just a babe in a manger—but He lives in a factory, an office, at a university, at a school—most of all in our hearts.

 

            Conclusion: The shepherds would never be the same people, however, because they not only heard the good news but they acted on it. They “saw for themselves—they “experienced it” first hand and they “proclaimed it.” They went away “glorifying and praising God” (verse 20). They found it easy to PROCLAIM it to others around them because the joy bubbled up and spilled out on those around them.

            What do you do once you have heard the message? Do you put off responding? Do you say, “Maybe some day I will check into it” or do you “hurry to respond” as the shepherds did long ago?

            Another question to ask yourselves as this advent season is drawing to a close, “What effect has the news of Jesus’ birth had on me? Is it:

                       

                                    Ho hum—business as usual?

                                    Greater spiritual commitment?

                                    A hew hope for my future?

                                    A new awareness and thankfulness for God’s forgiveness?

 

Benediction: And now may the consequence of the birth change your life this week

                        For the light has transcended the darkness

                        Hope has replaced fear

                        Forgiveness has defeated sin

                        God has chosen YOU

                        Let us proclaim it by the lives we live!

       copyright 2009 by Marilyn S. Murphree    for other advent sermons check out my new book at the following link:  http://www.createspace.com/3405315   Adventures into Advent