When they [the shepherds] had seen him, they spread the word
concerning what had been told them about this child [Jesus]
Luke 2:17.
I can remember the excitement I felt waking up as a very fortu-
nate child early one Christmas morning, finding a pillowcase
filled with Christmas presents at the foot of my bed and calling out and waking
up the whole household: He’s been!!! Father Christmas has been!!! Father
Christmas had been and left his toys, but the excitement I had experienced
pales into insignificance when compared to the excitement experienced by the
shepherds during that first Christmas when Jesus was born in Bethlehem –
God’s wonderful gift – Jesus had come!! The angels made this awesome
announcement of Jesus’ birth to humble shepherds keeping watch over their
flocks at night: ‘I bring you good news of great joy that will cause great joy for
all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is
the Messiah, the Lord.’ [Luke 2:11]. Following this and the words of the joyful
heavenly choir: Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those
on whom his favour rests,’ [Luke 2:13-14] they hurried off to Bethlehem and
found that it was true – they found the baby lying in a manger and went off and
spread the word concerning what they had been told. [Luke 2:17.] I don’t expect
those in Bethlehem got much sleep that night, rather like the Foster household
all those years ago. All were amazed at what the shepherds had told them [Luke
2:18.] and those whose lives were touched and those of the shepherds were
never the same again. They experienced and received God’s wonderful gift.
Like the shepherds we too can be “beacons†and share the great news of great
joy concerning God’s wonderful Gift – Jesus in our words and in our acts of
kindness like buying a Christmas present for a local needy child. And that it is
not just at Christmastime that His special gift of love is available, it is there
waiting for all of us to receive each day.
Blessings, prayers, and love for Christmas and the new year.
Robert