You’ve Gotta See This!
Luke 2:1-20
Have you ever been so enthused about something unusual that you had to tell someone?
• an amazing sunset
• a colorful hot air balloon
• a double rainbow
• something cute your pet was doing
Do we get so excited about something God is doing that we tell someone, “You’ve gotta see this”?
Now, have you ever been irritated with someone who too often says, “Come here. You’ve gotta see this?”
You don’t want to. You’re busy with a project you want to finish. Or you’re comfortable in your recliner. Or you’re just skeptical that it’s worth going out of your way to see.
Is this the way you’ve responded to God’s activity – to Jesus?
Are you missing the opportunity of lifetime? Are you missing the opportunity of eternity?
Why do people miss the presence and grace of Christ?
1. Some miss Christ because they are too preoccupied to take a serious look.
Many are so busy with the details of celebrating Christmas that they miss Christ himself.
A woman spent the day frantically finishing her shopping. In one large, downtown department store, she impatiently waited for the elevator, her arms full of bulky bags. When the door opened, the elevator was full. Its occupants mumbled as they squeezed closer to make room for one more.
As the doors closed, she said, “Whoever is responsible for this whole Christmas thing ought to be tarred and feathered, strung up, and shot!” The others nodded or grunted in agreement – until one voice was heard, “Not to worry. They already crucified him.”
Are you so busy, distracted and preoccupied that you’re missing the point, missing God’s amazing gift?
2. Some miss Christ because they want to be too sophisticated to accept the simple.
Proud people have trouble with such a humble Savior. The births of princes are surrounded by ceremony, celebration, lavish splendor. The birth of Agustus was announced as “Good News” and he was heralded as a “savior”. He ruled the Roman empire for 44 years, until 14 A.D. He ended the civil wars and reigned during unprecedented outward calm.
Epictitus, the 1st century philosopher wrote of him: “While the emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from suffering, grief and envy. He cannot give peace of heart, for which man yearns more than even for outward peace.” Unfortunately Epictitus did not have the answer either.
No one was more important than Caesar. But “it was this baby in a rural Judean village that brought angels into the visible realm to announce his arrival among men” (source unknown).
Many people don’t want such common-place simplicity. Are you turned off by a redemptive story in which the key players include a peasant couple with smelly shepherds in a smelly stable?
3. Some miss Christ because they are too rigid to look for something new.
We’re set in our ways. We’re skeptical of anything outside the realm of our familiarity, and this plan just seems too risky.
4. Some miss Christ because they are too fearful to get close to Divinity.
Maybe I’m afraid to get very close to the Divine because that will require some things I can’t give. “I can’t hope to measure up.”
Maybe I’m afraid because that will require some things I don’t want to give. “I like my life the way it is.”
Maybe I’m afraid because of the guilt I feel. People have always been agonizingly aware of their sin and unworthiness when they find themselves in the radiance of true holiness. That’s why God’s messengers so often said, “Don’t be afraid.” He becomes present to us so our sin and guilt can be dealt with by confession, repentance, forgiveness and grace.
5. Some miss Christ because they are lacking a credible witness.
That can be because they’re not willing to lend credibility to God’s witnesses. They’re skeptical and simply dismiss any Christian as a “holier-than-thou type.” Or, they don’t want to believe this "crazy story" and find reasons to criticize and discredit believers.
It can also be because we who’ve met the Savior simply fail to be the witnesses we’re called to be. Or, we do it in ways that sacrifice credibility.
Sometimes we make assumptions about people. We’ve seen a wonderful thing God is doing and think, “I’d like to tell someone." Then we have second thoughts like, “No, he’s too busy, or she’s too skeptical, or they won’t care.”
Are you missing the opportunity of a lifetime – of eternity? We can find some real guidance and encouragement if we follow the shepherds.
1. The shepherd’s first response was, “Let’s go and see.”
"Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." (Luke 2:15, NIV)
The time comes when you must drop everything, come from wherever you are and whatever you’re doing to meet the Savior. Come out of your busyness, preoccupation with personal success, sorrow, fear, confusion, doubt and weariness to see the amazing work of God - and worship.
2. The shepherd’s second response was, “Let’s go and tell.”
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them… (Luke 2:17-18, NIV)
It sounds like wherever they met people on the streets, they gladly told them about their adventure. Maybe they went out of their way to go where they knew people were gathered. I can imagine one saying, “Hey, my uncle lives over there. I want to tell him.”
Notice that they don’t seem too worried about having a carefully constructed or complex presentation. I wonder how often we fail to tell anyone because we think we need a memorized formula for sharing the plan of salvation. These are valuable and can be effective but they aren’t always the place to start with someone.
I wonder too if we’re often unwilling to tell people because we don’t think we can convince them. I don’t see that concern on the part of the shepherds. We’d also be more effective if we’d remember that it’s the Holy Spirit who convicts and convinces. We’re just the witnesses - like the shepherds who simply told people what they’d seen and heard.
3. The shepherd’s third response was, “Let’s go and live.”
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen… (Luke 2:20, NIV)
They couldn’t stay in the village or stay close to the manger. They had to go back to their work, their families, their routines. But they didn’t go back the same. They went to live in the light of this new reality.
They went back, “glorifying and praising God.” Our experience with Christ is not just about a single, wonderful and emotional meeting. That’s just the beginning of a life lived so that even the daily routines bring glory to God and in each dimension of life we praise the living God, our Savior.
