Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.

 Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.

“The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15

On the night when our Lord was born on the chill and silent night; there were shepherds in the fields attending their sheep. They were itinerant and lived a nomadic lifestyle following the green pastures and cool waters, such as they were, in the barren lands around Judea. The light that they could see would be just the star and the moon lit on the sky. Also, a small glittering light from nearby village around Judea from far off distant.

Sheep need a shepherd because they are naturally prey animals with limited intelligence, meaning they cannot effectively navigate their environment, find food, or protect themselves from predators without a human guide to lead them to safe pastures, provide food and water, and safeguard them from danger; essentially, a shepherd is crucial for their survival. 

Sheep are defenseless animals and the only protection they have comes from their shepherd. Consequently, if left alone to fend for themselves, they are in great danger. On the flip side the only net worth a shepherd had was in his sheep. If he lost them, he lost everything he owned.

One needs to understand this to comprehend the risk and commitment the shepherds made to leave their flocks and journey to Bethlehem. It was more that a casual evening walk to town.

They were minding their own business, keeping watch over their flocks when an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” In (Luke 2:16) we learn that made no delay as they “hurried off” and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

How about you this Christmas? Will you be answering the call to the Picnic, Party, shopping at mall, hustling off to buy gifts, thinking of the present or will your thoughts be aimed at Bethlehem of years gone by?

God is calling you to go to Bethlehem to see the Jesus of whom the angels spoke. No, he is not still in a feeding trough and you don’t have to literally travel to Bethlehem, but through His Word you can follow the star and find Jesus.

The shepherds left with no delay and in full obedience to find the Lord of heaven. They left everything of worth and let the sheep fend for themselves. Have you been putting off this going to Bethlehem? Have you not wanted to risk losing what you have to make the journey? Are you delaying to not risk what you cannot keep for the sake of missing that which you cannot lose?

So let’s all celebrate the season by focusing not on the presents but rather on the Lord of the manger. Let’s all go to Bethlehem this Christmas.