The message of Christmas did not change Herod, who tried to murder the Christ, and it did not change the Scribes of Jerusalem who did not even care enough to go to follow the lead of the Wise Men and go to Bethlehem.
But when the Angels reported the birth of Christ to the Shepherds, they simply went to see if it was true.
These were the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, just outside of Jerusalem, who were probably responsible for keeping the flock of sheep that was used for the temple sacrifices.
The “Good News” of Jesus’ birth changed the shepherds forever.
But can that same good news still change lives today?
These shepherds were changed because of their response to the good news. Their positive response to the message of Christ gave them something that no one could ever steal from them.
4 Changes Anyone Can Make Because Jesus was Born:
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
15 …Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see… Luke 2:15
To their credit, the shepherds did not just take the word of the angels. They said, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about” (2:15). They investigated to see if it was really true. They were rewarded for investigating. “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (2:16). You don’t have to see an angel to be convinced.
The Shepherds were Convinced by the Evidence that Jesus was the Christ.
They heard the message. They investigated for themselves. They saw the baby. They believed the prophecies. The shepherds were convinced. And they were confident. Millions upon millions of highly educated, sane, people have been convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And you can be confident, too.
Kelly Carr, Pastor, New Hope Community Church, 3849 FM 1827, McKinney, TX 75071 December 13, 2020
God Loves You Very Much