His Name Was Called Jesus.

HIS NAME WAS CALLED JESUS.

Luke 2:15-21.

The shepherds left all else aside in order to seek Christ, and that with all due haste (Luke 2:15-16). No word is given as to who watched their sheep whilst they were gone: they had more pressing matters to attend to. Their earlier fear had been totally dispelled.

After they had seen Him, they proclaimed Him (Luke 2:17). When we have found Christ ourselves we want to share Him with others. The shepherds became teachers, sharing with others what the angel had told them about this little child.

The people marvelled (Luke 2:18), enjoying the story as we enjoy the story of Christmas - but how soon we forget!

Mary pondered the meaning of it all (Luke 2:19), keeping it close in her heart. We do not immediately have all the answers, but we must treasure the truth that we do know until God should shed further light upon it in our lives.

Only then did the shepherds return to their vocation, and to their sheep (Luke 2:20), glorifying and praising God. Yet they would never be the same, they would see life differently from now on. After our mountaintop experiences we return to the ordinary and the mundane, but our experience of God should inform our everyday life.

Eight days after the birth of Mary's firstborn son (cf. Luke 2:7), in keeping with the law, He was circumcised (Luke 2:21a).

And in obedience to the message of the angel, He was named Jesus (Luke 2:21b; cf. Luke 1:31; Matthew 1:21).