So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:15,16)
A most incredible scene took place on those hills outside of Bethlehem. A batch of shepherds were tending their sheep when, all of a sudden, heaven’s light and warmth pervaded their mundane labors. An angel of the Lord appeared and told them the Savior was born. Their terror turned to wonderment and their response was, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass”.
What thing did they see? They saw the closeness of God (Luke 2:10, 11). God may have seemed light years away, untouchable, abstract and even uninterested to those shepherds as they toiled beneath the dark sky. But in actuality he was incredibly near. Matthew uses the name Immanuel for the Babe, meaning “God with us”. They saw God in the flesh, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God pitched his tent in humanity in order to dwell near us. The shepherds could touch him, he came that close. Bethlehem means house of bread and Jesus was the living manna that came from heaven. The shepherds saw this thing.
What thing did they see? They saw the impartiality of God. Shepherds were of a low order, a poorer class, and many despised them and their trade. Yet in the Scriptures God himself is compared to a shepherd over his flock. And it was to shepherds that God announced the birth of Jesus. To them was given the privilege and honor of seeing the newborn Savior. God is not partial to social status, to wealth, to occupation, to race, nationality, age or gender (Romans 2:11). The shepherds saw this thing firsthand.
What thing did they see? They saw the sacrifice of God. They beheld the newborn baby not covered with silk and jewels, nor settled in a soft royal bed, nor safely nestled in a king’s palace. No religious, political or royal elites were beside the mundane manger; instead it was shepherds. Was Jesus dressed in royal garb? Nay! He was dressed in swaddling cloths, the wrappings of poor babies. Although “He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus left the Universe’s throne for a stall and a manger. This thing the shepherds saw. And so shall we, if we invite Christ to be born within the stable of our hearts.
What thing did they see? They saw Mary, Joseph and the Babe lying in the manger. In this they saw God’s salvation, as they saw the Savior himself (Luke 2:11). The word savior (sōtēr) means one who rescues, a deliverer. They saw the one who would deliver them from their sin (Matthew 1:23). They saw and believed! And what they saw, they made known to others with enthusiasm (Luke 2:16-18). Bethlehem is the house of bread and the house of bread is God’s word in which we feed. Go to Bethlehem daily and see what the shepherds’ saw, the Savior and the salvation of God. But do not keep to yourselves this thing you see.
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