Christmas Traditions
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
The shepherds in the Nativity account were simply going about their business, “keeping watch over their flocks by night.” To them, it was like any other evening of the year. They did not expect anything out of the ordinary to happen. But something did happen out there during their nightwatch that changed their lives. They heard the good news about Christ’s birth. Angels had appeared above them in the sky, proclaiming that the blessed event of Jesus’ birth had taken place!
And then, they were moved to leave the hills and their sheep to make their way to Bethlehem. They wanted to see for themselves what the angels had spoken of to them. They wished to offer their worship to their Savior and God! And so, they hurriedly went to find Him.
Friends, in the birth of Jesus, something has also happened which has changed our lives! The “good news,” first promised to Adam and Eve thousands of years before Jesus’ birth, had finally come to pass. Jesus’ birth truly has changed our lives because He has arrived to crush the power of the Devil, as God had promised. Jesus’ birth has changed our lives because we see God’s tremendous love for us, demonstrated in sending His own Son to take our sins away.
This wonderful news leads us, forgiven sinners in Christ, to come and adore our Savior Jesus. Like those shepherds of long ago who made their way into Bethlehem to find the Christchild, may we continue to seek our Savior in His Word and find great joy in worshipping Him! Amen.
Oh, come, all ye faithful, triumphantly sing;
Come, see in the manger our Savior and King!
To Bethlehem hasten with joyful accord; Oh, come, let us adore Him,
Oh, come, let us adore Him, Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Amen.
The Lutheran Hymnal 102:1