Now We know "The Rest of the Story"

Now We know "The Rest of the Story"

St. Luke 2:17-18, “And they [the shepherds] came in haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.   And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.”  Earlier, we discussed the fact that God trusted the message of the coming of the Savior first.  When I read this passage of Scripture I am reminded of why God trusted them with the good news that Christ had been born in Bethlehem that night. 

   First of all, the Scripture tells us that they did not mess around about seeking out the Christ child, but rather they “came in haste” to find Him.  They did not doubt the word of the angel that he had been born in a manger.  They were simple people with a simple faith that made them God’s choice to hear and see first.

       Second, after they had seen and heard they went back to the mountains and “…made known abroad the saying which was told them…”  God knew that they would go and tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ was born to save sinners.  Their reaction was to go and tell which was much different than Herod’s which was to go and kill.

       Third, St Luke 2:20 tells us that, “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”  God chose the shepherds because He knew that they would not only worship Christ at the manger but that they would go home and give Christ true worship by telling everybody they met that the Messiah was indeed born to save sinners.

        So, we should learn from this three part lesson that we should we, like the shepherds, should “taste and see” that Christ is good.  We should go home and tell everyone unashamedly that Christ was born to save lost men and women.  Finally our musicing should give glory to God as we tell the good news of Christ’s birth.