Come & See

Good evening everyone…it is so good to be here this evening where we get the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ together. I hope that you have been blessed so far as we have all worshipped together. I want to welcome those that are online, whether you are listening live or later, we are grateful you have found us for this Christmas Eve service together.

Have you ever been so excited about something that you just couldn’t wait to share it with someone? Like, maybe when you got engaged, or when you had your first child, or even when you bought your house. Think about what it was like to have that amazing news. For me there’s been a few times when I got some pretty exciting news…one time I remember when a friend of mine in Puerto Rico gifted Beth and I a car because ours had just been stolen. It’s a fun story about how God supplies your needs, but when he told me he was going to gift me that little 1996 Saturn SL2, man I was just over the top excited. Maybe for you it was a promotion, or bones…whatever it was, just take a brief moment to remember.

Tonight though we are going to look at the shepherds. The ones who were out in the region where Jesus was being born, and they got to hear the greatest birth announcement in the history of the world. They heard about Jesus’ birth from heavenly angels, and we are going to look at their response to that message briefly. I’m going to read through this story a little bit, and so if you have your Bible with you, go ahead and turn over to Luke 2 where you can follow along. If you don’t have a Bible of your own, we do have some in the back of the room that you can take with you as a gift from LRBC.

So, let’s take a look at

Luke 2:15–16 (ESV)

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Now, here we have the shepherds, who were just these ordinary men, right? Well…kind of. You see, they were just regular guys, but they did have a bit of a special job that I want to tell you about this evening. You see, these shepherds had a very important job. The shepherds in this region would have been raising their flocks, raising sheep, oxen, and goats needed for Temple sacrifices as well as special Passover lambs that were later taken to the Temple for sacrifice. They were very focused on finding the perfect lambs without blemish for the Temple sacrifices. It’s kind of neat to think about how they got to see the perfect lamb without blemish that night under the stars.

What did they do when the angels sang their song of worship? Well, they didn’t question the angels, they didn’t hang out to talk about what they should do and how to have a reasonable response…they went to see for themselves…”with haste” to find Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. They immediately sought Jesus, just like they were invited to do.

Listen, this is for everyone that is sitting in this room right now, and everyone that is joining us online…you have the opportunity to come to Jesus with fresh eyes and with fresh hearts as we celebrate his birth together. You know, the shepherds didn’t have all the answers to the questions that I guarantee they had. They just heard this message and they were leaving with haste to go and see it for themselves. They responded in faith that night so long ago…you can do the same thing tonight. Listen, when you are struggling and trying to figure out what it means to have faith, or if you have had faith for decades…you can take your next step of faith tonight.

What is it that you are struggling to trust the Lord with? What is it that you are holding on to hoping you can figure it out for yourself. Whatever it is, there is no other that can hold your burdens like the hands of the Lord. You don’t have to have the answers…you just have to run to the one who does. So…are you ready to do that tonight…with haste? Let me invite you this evening to “Come and See” what the savior has waiting for you.

That’s not it though…I mean, the shepherds immediately responded in faith to this amazing message of hope from the angels. Let’s read a little more of the story together.

Luke 2:17–20 (ESV)

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

They heard the story, they ran to go and see, and then something else happened. When they came face to face with Jesus, they couldn’t keep it to themselves. I mean, these are the shepherds that have been looking for the perfect lambs for so many years, and now they have seen with their own eyes…the perfect lamb. They worshiped at the manger of Jesus the Messiah…the same Messiah that they have been searching for. Then they got up…they began to glorify God in Heaven, giving all credit to the God of the universe, and they praising him out loud. They told Mary about what they were told and they just couldn’t keep quiet…they still had a job to do out at the flocks, but they couldn’t wait to tell everyone they encountered on the way back to the fields.

All of Bethlehem would have likely heard about the birth of Jesus the Messiah that had been proclaimed by a host of heavenly angels becuase the shepherds couldn’t keep quiet about what they had seen and heard. I can just imagine some of the folks in Bethlehem likely were trying to sleep and telling the shepherds to calm down and go watch their flocks…but I wonder if others understood what was happening in their midst…

You see, when we read about the shepherds that night we should be reminded of something pretty important. We should remember that just like the shepherds we have the greatest news ever to happen…and just like the shepherds ran out telling everyone…we should be doing the same thing.

The problem is that sometimes maybe we feel that we are so far removed from the event of the Birth of Christ that we don’t think it’s that important…or at least that it’s that urgent. We think there’s always tomorrow or next week…the problem with that thinking is that eventually, there are no more next weeks. You may waste your opportunity to share who Jesus is if you just sit in these chairs week after week.

This Christmas, don’t wait again…don’t put it off…who can you share the good news of the incarnation of Jesus the Messiah with? Who is it in your life that you know you need to invite to “come and see” as you share what Jesus has done in your life. This Christmas, reflect on the joy and privilege you have of sharing Jesus. Not everyone has that same opportunity that you do.

Maybe you’re here tonight because someone invited you, or maybe you’ve been searching for something a little deeper—something real. The shepherds were ordinary people who had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, and you can, too.

Here’s the deal, the shepherds were regular guys who didn’t understand the full story of what Jesus would do. They just knew they had to go see him. That’s how faith starts…just that first step towards Jesus.

Maybe coming here tonight was your first step towards something that you don’t know yet. Maybe making a commitment to open the Bible tomorrow is that next step for you, or even reaching out to the people you’re sitting with tonight and asking them to share about what Jesus has done in your life.

Let me just make things very clear for you though…The Jesus that we worship in the manger, is the same Jesus that walked the Earth and lived a sinless life. This is the same Jesus that died on the cross…a sinners death, even though he had no sin. He died where you and I should be. Later he rose from the grave and today this is the same Jesus that lives in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls as we trust in what he came to do that day he was laid in the manger.

If tonight you feel a stirring in your heart—a longing to know this Jesus for yourself—I want to invite you to pray. You don’t have to have all the answers; you just need to come to Him in faith. There is no special prayer, except for this: When you pray, acknowledge your sin, and place your trust in the one who never sinned. Then reach out to someone and have a conversation to see what it means to follow Jesus.

Of course…maybe you’ve already done all of that. Maybe you’re here today and you’re wondering what is it that you should be doing as a response to all of this that the shepherds did that night. Well…I want to invite you to think back to when you first understood the wonder of his love. Think back to when you first realized what Jesus had done for you, and how you didn’t deserve it. How did that moment change you? The shepherds left praising God and telling everyone about what had happened…what about you?

This Christmas think about the people in your life that don’t have the hope you have. Think about the people in your life that need to hear about the good news of the Gospel…not just hear the words, but think about those that need to understand what Jesus has done for them. Have you ever thought about telling them what you have…or do you want to keep it a secret? Maybe you don’t want to keep it a secret, but you just have no idea how to break the ice having that conversation with someone. Well…I’ll tell you what works for me whenever I get stuck with how to have a conversation or how to do something…here it is…are you ready…Just do it. Like, just open up and share a story about something that’s important to you. Invite them to church with you, or invite them to read the Bible with you, ask them to help hold you accountable. Tell someone about how God has worked in your life…or simply let them know that you’re praying for them.

The shepherds didn’t share the news because they had to…They were genuinely overwhelmed by the joy and awe of being in Jesus’ presence. You see, when you truly grasp what Jesus has done for you, sharing that message becomes a privilege…not a chore.

This evening I want to do something…I want to invite everyone that has a phone to get your phone out and open whatever social media app you use, or whatever texting app you you. Then I want you to text this message to everyone you know, post it on every social media app you use…here it goes

Jesus is born! #MerryChristmas

Maybe you can even add in a little, ask me how I know…or something like that.

Let’s pray together tonight…If you’re seeking Jesus tonight, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. If you already know Him, ask for the courage to share.

Let’s pray: pray for seekers, and pray for those who already know.