Lessons from the Shepherds: The Urgency of Evangelism

For Christians, Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. The importance of churches teaching Christmas realities in the proper context cannot be overstated. I am amazed at how successful society has been at redefining the significance of the most meaningful occurrence in the history of mankind.

Christmas Day was God’s D-Day, Deliverance Day, for humanity. It was an assault on the kingdoms, principalities, and powers of Satan that served as a devastating blow to their earthly influence.

Satan knows that the Christ child, born in a manger, was the event that would start God’s plan of redemption for mankind. That is why I believe he is so adamant about redefining the significance of Christmas.

Christmas has been transformed by retailers and advertising from a commemoration of our Savior’s birth into a month-long buying frenzy where fictional characters cast a shadow to the One who brought salvation to our sinful souls.

Isaiah 9:6-7 describes this perfectly. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

The hope of humanity is not dependent on whether or not Santa comes to town, but rather the historical fact that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin and was both fully God and fully man. He came for one reason: to save His people from their sin.

While I do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with Santa celebrations, when it comes to worship, looking for answers, and discovering purpose and true joy, I’m going to celebrate the One “whose government and peace” will have no end.

As I started to meditate on the reality of this season, I was captured by the actions and response of the shepherds who journeyed to get close to the Christ child. They weren’t content with just hearing the good news, they wanted to experience it. And once they experienced it, they were compelled with a sense of urgency to share it.

Luke 2:13 – 20 says, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ 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, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

The three things that stick out to me about the shepherds in this passage are: they ran, they searched, they shared.

The sense of urgency that came over them was overwhelming. In fact, it compelled them to leave their livelihoods to experience “this thing” that had happened. In their hurry, they abandoned their personal needs, trusting God to provide for them.

As they hurried to Bethlehem, their sense of urgency drove them to relentlessly seek Christ. The search for Christ was no easy task. All they were told was that they would find the baby lying in a manger. Think of how many mangers were in Bethlehem. But their persistence eventually led them to experiencing Christ first-hand.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 says, “‘ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.”

Finally, their experience further compelled their sense of urgency in sharing all that they had heard and seen.

It is hard to contain yourself when you encounter Jesus, when you behold His glory. The real relevancy of Christmas needs to be shared: that God came to earth, wrapped in humanity, to save us from our sins. You see, the urgency of the shepherds wasn’t that they saw a baby, it was that they saw God.

It is my prayer that God’s plan of hope and salvation will be revealed to each of us this Christmas and that it sparks a sense of urgency to share His love with all those around us this Christmas season.