Come and see what God has done, was the angel’s message to the shepherds out in the fields watching their sheep that first Christmas night. They were terrified as the angel came among them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The angel told them not to be afraid, for he had brought them Good News that would bring Great Joy, for all people, for a Savior had been born!! Then the angel told the shepherds how they would recognize the Savior that was born; they would find Him wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
How did the shepherds respond to the angel’s message?
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other,
“Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.” Luke 2:13-20
Come and see what God has done…
God’s message pierced through the darkness and rang out loud and clear on the hills outside Bethlehem as a host of angels joined together praising and glorifying the Lord. Their words of praise and of peace expelled the shepherd’s fear and brought an excitement to them to go and see the thing which the Lord had told them about. They hurried off, and there, in the town of Bethlehem, they found the Baby; the Good News that brought Great Joy, the Savior of the world!
The shepherds were the first missionaries, the first ones to share testimony about Jesus! Jesus hadn’t said a word, hadn’t done anything but “come to earth.” Standing in the presence of Jesus, seeing what God had done, changed the shepherds and gave them a story they couldn’t keep to themselves! They went and spread the Good News of Great Joy to all the people and all who heard their story were astonished.
The shepherds went back to their work that night changed because they listened to and obeyed the message from God. Their darkness was turned to Light as they went to see what God had done! Their hearts were filled with awe and wonder, and their mouths were filled with joy and praise as they glorified God!
Though you may not see an angel come to you with a message from God or a multitude of angels praising God, God still sends this message to you.
Come and see what God has done…
Come and see Jesus…
The Good News…
that brings Great Joy to all people…
the Savior of the World!
And once you find Jesus, once you see Him face to face, once you experience the presence of Jesus you will never be the same!
Whether you have seen Jesus for many years, or have never responded to God’s message to come and see…I invite you to come and see Jesus as never before! Every encounter with Jesus, every time you set aside the busyness of life to come and see, to “Be still and know that I am God,” you are changed from the inside out.
A great way to have an encounter with Jesus is to read the Bible with a heart that believes and a mind to understand. Jesus is called the Word of God, so when you read the Bible, you gain understanding of who God is. You learn the Good News of all Jesus has done, is doing, and will do. Your fear is turned to peace. You are encouraged by those who have gone before and have seen what God has done. You gain understanding, new perspectives, and greater faith. Your mouth is filled with praise and you have stories that you can’t keep to yourself!
Between the Old Testament and the New testament there had been over 400 years of silence. No one had heard the voice of God. It was into that darkness that the angel’s messages to Zechariah, to Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds came shining through. It was into that silence that God sent His Good News of Great Joy, the Savior of the world.
Sometimes you can fool yourself by thinking that because you have a Bible in your house. Because you go to church. Because your family is Christian. Because you have the Light of Jesus all around you, you don’t need to have your own encounters with Jesus. You can be fooled into thinking that since you heard the angels tell about the Savior of the world you don’t need to go to the manger to see Him for yourself. The truth is that until you push away your own fear, leave your own sheep, and hurry off to find the manger, you will never encounter Jesus. You won’t experience His presence, and you will live in darkness and silence.
As the year 2016 comes to an end, and 2017 comes in fresh and new, now is the time for you to
Come and see what God has done…
Come and see Jesus…
To read your Bible,
to pray
to journal
to listen to God
to respond to what He says
to do what He says
for then your mouth will be filled praise as you glorify God and tell others the Good News of Great Joy…
You will be one who brings God’s message of Light into this dark world, breaking the silence with His message of Hope, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year – and many amazing encounters with Jesus – Wilma
Feel free to share a comment of your encounters! You never know how your story may encourage someone else!
Above: Adriana Vega
A beautifully choreographed dance to the song, Noel, written by Chris Tomlin, performed Christmas Day, at Bethany Church, Wanaque.