Luke 2:15-18

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

What a message the shepherds had received. What an unbelievable thing had happened on that ordinary day of tending sheep. To think that angels would come and sing in their presence and tell them of a Savior who had been born for them. To think that a heavenly host would glorify God and light up the night sky all around them. And to think that this extra-special baby would be in a manger, of all places, must have stirred their hearts and minds with wonder.

So maybe they went out of sheer curiosity, if nothing else. Maybe they went wondering what they would find in a humble stable. Maybe they wondered what it could all possibly mean for them and for this world. But they went with haste and expectation and found this baby and His parents just as the angels had described it. And then they went their way and told everyone what the angels had said about this baby. And all who heard were filled with wonder.

Of course, we look at this story from a different perspective than people at that time did. We can see the full of Jesus’ life in Scripture and understand what He did and why He came and what it means for us. We can rejoice in our salvation. And we read this story year after year, and I wonder if something so extraordinary that happened that night has lost its wonder for us. I wonder if behind the hustle and bustle of the season we have lost a true appreciation of the fact that God came to us, that He came to save, that He loved us that much, and that He is able to do such an incredible thing in such an incredible way. As we go about our Christmas Day, may we not lose the wonder of what the angels proclaimed and the shepherds saw and all that Christ means to us.