Advent Trail Christmas Eve - Luke 2:16

So the shepherds hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (Luke 2:16)

How did the shepherds react to what had taken place? It had certainly been an eventful night, very different to the usual flock-watching. After “the angels had left them and gone into heaven” (2:15) we might imagine one of them saying, “Right lads, the excitement’s over. Back to work”. But instead their reaction was, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

“Let’s go” translates a word indicating urgency and that’s underlined by “so they hurried off”. They were eager to respond to what they’d heard and, having been given a sign telling them how they’d recognise the baby, clearly action by them was intended. Their search was successful – they “found the baby”, just as the angel had said.

When God’s words come to us, we’re meant not just to enjoy them but to respond actively to them. The joyful good news of a Saviour was not only for the shepherds but “for all the people” (2:10), a promise for all “who have ears to hear” (Mark 4:9). Christmas is a sign that should cause us to hurry to discover for ourselves the one whose birth was announced that night. For the further promise of Jesus is, “The one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matt.7:8).