Luke 2:16-17 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.
Mark chapter 5 describes a man set free from tormenting spirits. Upon seeing Jesus, the man fell down and worshiped the Lord. It was the pivot of his life. In the final description, the Bible offers this word: Mark 5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. The man saw the Lord and then told what happened to him.
When Paul was converted, his eyes were blinded by the Light. However, when the Lord opened his eyes and his understanding, Paul “went about” telling people about the Lord. He baptized thousands and preached the Gospel throughout the whole region. He saw and told.
A Samaritan woman came to a well to draw water. Unbeknownst to her, Jesus was waiting. He told her of her life and then offered the “Living Water” that quenches the soul. She ran back and told the city, “Come see a man that told me all that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?”
The shepherds saw the Messiah, wrapped in swaddling clothes and spread the news of His coming. They saw Him and then spoke what they saw: Luke 2:17 “when they had seen him, they spread the word.”
We have seen Him. We know that Jesus is the one and only God. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the Incarnate God, Emmanuel, and His name is the everlasting Father – the Prince of Peace. We know that “In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” We have seen His miracle-working power. We have seen and received His Holy Spirit. Because we have seen Him, we must spread the word.
This Jesus is worthy of our praise and of the telling. Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “you shall be witnesses of me.” His Spirit has given us power to be a witness of Him. Christmas represents the moment when the world saw Him and was forever changed because He came. The shepherds have provided the pattern for everyone who claims Jesus as Lord: we must speak Jesus!
It is the response of Peter and John, both of which spoke the sentiment of my heart. What they said gives direction to the church and to the heartbeat of the Lord. When questioned about their preaching, they replied, Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole