“Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come
to pass, which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke 2:15)
These words were uttered by the shepherds following the amazing experience they had when the chorus of angels announced the birth of the Saviour of the world. Luke unfolds the story by telling how the shepherds discussed what they had seen and heard and decided to quickly travel to Bethlehem to see for themselves what God had just revealed to them through the angels.
What started out as a terrifying experience for these shepherds as they tended their sheep, ended up as an urgent journey to find the baby Jesus lying in a manger. The Bethlehem crowds had no inkling that the Son of God was asleep in their little town. But we are told, the shepherds informed everyone they met what had happened and praised and glorified their God for everything they had seen and heard.
The wise men had a much longer and possibly more hazardous journey to take, as they followed the star to the place where Jesus was born. Think of the preparation they would have had to make before they commenced their journey. What difficulties they would have encountered as they followed the direction of the star leading them to their destination?
And what did the shepherds and wise men see when they arrived at their journey’s end? Not a king who was expected by the Jews to save them from their bondage under the Romans! They observed a small baby being cared for by his mother and father, surrounded by the cattle housed in the stable. This scene led these travelers to praise and worship their God for this indescribable gift given to the world.
Just as the shepherds and wise men journeyed to Bethlehem, we have a journey before us as Christmas nears. What will your journey to Bethlehem be like this Christmas as you prepare to once again celebrate the birthday of the Christ? If you haven’t already commenced the Bethlehem journey this year, it will still take you about another three weeks to arrive there!
Will your journey be encompassed by the feelings experienced by the shepherds and wise men? Will you have thoughts of excitement, anticipation and yearning to be with and experience the love and joy of meeting the Christ child again? Will you have the spirit of persistence shown by the wise men as you travel to reach your journey’s end? Will you take the time to praise and worship your God for this wonderful gift of God’s grace to humankind?
And where do you need to travel to get there? Will it be through the busy and noisy crowds in shopping centres as you shop for gifts and food? Will your journey take you through those ever so brief quiet moments when you find the time to contemplate and prepare to celebrate in this significant event? Will you be traveling through the parties that are held? Will your travels take you to worship your God to give thanks for His “unspeakable” gift to mankind?
The culmination of your journey will of course be on Christmas morning when you awake to a new day. And what will that day bring? I trust it will surround you with experiences of joy, hope, love and peace.
And what will you bring to the Christ child this Christmas at your journey’s end? A poem written by Rossetti provides a challenging thought for us to consider:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
I If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what can I give Him?
Give Him my heart.
I trust that in your journey to Bethlehem this Christmas you may recapture the wonder and joy of the gift of that infant child coming into the world and that you may respond to His call to tell others of this marvelous gift!
Bill Gillard