By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

SCRIPTURE:
"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 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." (Luke 2:15-20)

I want to share with you what I learned from the last 6 verses of the Christmas story as this part of the season comes to a close but opens up with a whole New Year!!!

Observations:
I asked myself who are all the characters involved?
Angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, baby, the Lord God, and people (implicit)

Observations:
I decided to focus on the shepherd's role and asked myself what they did?
The shepherds make a group decision to go and 'see this thing that has happened'.

Do ya think they took all their sheep with them to 'see this thing that has happened'?
I think that is stretching it but we are not told. We know they were watching over their flock by night when the angels appeared to them, according to v.8. This means they were in the middle of their jobs. Yet, they go now searching for this thing that the angels told them about. They could have easily worried what is going to happen to their sheep but I have a feeling the angels were watching over them. In any case, the shepherds obey the angels without leaning on their own understanding.

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of their statement, 'see thing thing that has happened' 
In the Old Testament, we learn that the angels are messengers of God! Yet, the shepherds cannot yet fully grasp what is happening to call the GREATEST EVENT IN HISTORY a THING:  "Let's go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened".

I have a feeling the shepherds could not completely believe the angels until they saw the baby Jesus themselves. Without saying, 'let's go to Bethlehem to see the Savior born or to see Christ the Lord, they say 'let's go see this thing'.

There is a lot to say here because the shepherd's really may not have grasped the message of the angels in their heart. For all we know, they could have all been unbelievers without a knowledge of the Old Testament and prophecy.

This all changed when they chose to obey the angels, hurried off and saw Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. They sought after Jesus and found Jesus. Even as a baby, Jesus became personal to them now.

In v.17 we read 'when they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told about this child'.

The event was not a thing anymore to them but the birth of a Savior became reality to them. We are told that these shepherds now spread the word concerning what had been told about this child.

We are not told that they saw the baby Jesus and went back to their fields, saying "yeah, that's cool, we have work to do now" but they were engaged in EVANGELISM. This is the first instance of evangelism by humans that we see here in the New Testament.

What better persons to promote evangelism for the Kingdom of God than shepherds who would one day bow down to the Good Shepherd who said, 'I AM the Good Shepherd and I came to lay down my life for the sheep'

What they saw and heard, they did not keep to themselves but spread the word. 

The cause-and-effect relationship shows the result of the shepherds evangelism is that 'all who heard were amazed.'

The shepherds belief in the Savior and their actions of spreading the news had ripple effects.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here. When I think about Christmas, my focus should not be on getting presents or gifts but spreading CHRISTMAS around for it is CHRIST MAS (Christ to the mass of people). Christ came to spread Himself around to the mass of humanity. The shepherds understood that and knew it started with them after the angel of the Lord had revealed the Good News to them.

It is important for us to realize that 'EVANGELISM' began at Christmas. The angels news to the shepherds and the shepherds news to the people had positive ripple effects in so many lives.

I ask you now dear friend, who will you spread around Jesus to this Christmas season?
Dear friend, it would be a shame if we celebrate the Christmas season without having told anyone about the Savior who came into this world to save the mass of people . That is what CHRISTMAS is about! Christ added to the mass of people so they can be saved one day.

Let us do the math and we get Christ + Mass = Christmas.

On Christmas Day, if you have not told at least one person that does not know the Good News offered through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, it is not too late. The Christmas season as we know it is coming to an end but their are still days in this year of 2008 and the New Year of 2009 is coming.

The tendency of a lot of us can be to leave it to the pastors, priests, reverends, ministers, missionaries, etc to preach the Gospel and spread the Good News of the Salvation offered through Christ who came to 'ransom humanity from the bondage of sin and death'.

But, from the shepherds we learn that they took the initiative within their own profession and made a huge difference which is evidenced by:

"When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (Luke 2:18, NIV)

They were not commissioned missionaries, pastors, priests, reverends, etc but lowly shepherds who went back to their profession with a joyful mindset after spreading the Good News of the Savior.

"The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2:20, NIV)

Friend, you too can use the profession you are in to make a huge difference in the lives of those you come across. You do not have to be an Evangelist like Billy Graham to spread the Good News of Christ to those who need the Lord for people need the Lord and you can be the One to show them the Lord.

God used shepherds to lead people to the Good Shepherd.
God used fisherman to fish for the souls of men.

You can read more about using your profession for God's work by checking out one of my favorite devotionals the Lord Jesus helped me write at

Mark 1:16-18: "What do you do with your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N in life?" (Sept 04, 08, 10:51 a.m.)

Whether or not the Candy Cane story is true or just a legend, we see the example of using a person's profession to spread the Good News of the Savior here:

True story of the Candy Cane (Dramatization to make the point)

Once upon a time in a land far away, there was an elderly gentleman who loved children so much and wanted to make them a candy where the message of the gospel can be presented too.

One Christmas morning, he decided to give all the children a striped candy. The children loved the candy and it's taste. However, they wanted to know how come the candy had a weird shape. This gave the elderly gentleman the opportunity to spread the gospel.

"You see children, this Christmas day I want you to remember the birth of the Savior who was born for you and me even as you eat this candy.  Let me tell you the meaning of the candy", replied the elderly gentleman.

The elderly gentleman started to tell the meaning. "I made this candy in the shape of a cane to represent the 'staff of a shepherd'. Jesus is your Good Shepherd and you all are his tender sheep. The 'staff' is used to lead/pull you all in the right direction if you go astray.

I coated it completely with a 'white color' to represent purity. You see Jesus had no sin but was perfect in everything he did.  Each of us did yucky things though and Jesus wanted to forgive us and deliver us from these yucky things so he came to earth to be our Savior.

I coated the 'white cane' with stripes of 'red color' to represent the blood
of Jesus washing away all the yucky things we have done and make us pure. Jesus died for you and me to rescue us from all our yuckiness by becoming our Savior when we turn to Him and ask Him to forgive us fromt his yuckiness known as sin.

I also coated it with 'three thin stripes of red' to represent Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit represented in the Trinity.

Each time, you eat a candy cane, I wanted you to remember how much God loves you so much that He sent Jesus as a baby, born during Christmas to become your Savior one day and later give you His Holy Spirit to live in you and guide you everyday as He will become your Lord and Master when you ask Him to. He will be a good master who will love you and take care of you. Also, the shape of the cane gives you the first letter of the One who will become the Savior of the world: The letter 'J' for Jesus.

 This is the meaning of the candy cane in your hands and the gospel story." replied the elderly gentleman. Never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season and my gift of the candy cane to you represents the Good News of Christ. Amen!

Eating the original candy cane makes it that much more exciting and special to me because of the meaning behind the candy cane!

This Christmas season no matter what our profession, let us take the time to spread the message of true love, joy, peace, and hope that can be found only in the Savior. Christmas can just become a thing to us if we get so bogged down with our jobs and the duties we have to do rather than taking the time to understand the true meaning of Christmas.

My prayer is that each one of you will remember our Lord and Savior during this Christmas season and spread the love of Jesus Christ the remaining days of 2008 and in the coming days of 2009!

May you be touched by the Lord's presence and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ as you yourself bask in the loving Arms of love of our Savior. We cannot give anything or spread the Good News of Christ unless we have personally seen and experienced His love in our own life.

We will only be excited to share or spread any news if it makes an impact in our own life for that is human tendency so may you be impacted by Jesus Christ in your own life that you cannot keep Jesus to yourself but have the urge and desire to keep spreading Jesus.

May you all continue to have a MERRY CHRISTMAS SEASON and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"Share People's Redeemer Everywhere As Deliverer!" (S.P.R.E.A.D)/"Who will you S.P.R.E.A.D around Jesus to this Christmas season?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you so much your birth is so special because you were born to a virgin girl who is your blessed mother Mary, with the purpose to die for me and redeem my life from the bondage of sin and death one day. Later, you came back to life to save me. Christmas is a time of hope because you came to be our Savior. Thank you so much Jesus! I am sorry Lord when I have become too preoccupied with getting presents, etc that I fail to sit at your feet and spend time with you on your birthday. I am sorry when I do not give myself completely to you. Lord, we know when we give others gifts, it is like giving you gifts. Yet, many times we can be bogged down with presents and miss spreading you around. For that we are really sorry Lord.  I pray we would always remember the reason for this season is your birth. Thank you so much Jesus! Please Jesus give us boldness to tell others about you as the Shepherds did because you have the power to save all of us and be a light in our lives. Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you Lord for hearing us and answering us. I pray for all those who are suffering this season that you Oh Lord would send your healing in their lives. Whether they are suffering from a physical ailment, emotional, psychological, or even a financial struggle, please Lord be with them and help them experience the joy of this season. Thank you Lord we can celebrate your birth because you are Savior now and forever as we give our lives to thee. This Christmas season we give ourselves to thee as a present to you. We want to make you really happy for your birthday and always. Please help us Father God to bring you happiness. Thank you Lord and thank you Lord for the elderly gentleman who spread the Gospel through a candy cane. Thank you Lord that you can use anything you want for your honor and glory. Use us in our profession to spread the Good News of your Eternal Salvation and Redemption. Thank you so much Jesus. We lift all these things to you. In Your Name We Pray Jesus, thanking you and praising you for everything! Amen!

Won’t you come to Him friend or help someone who is wounded do that by coming to the Good Shepherd or leading them to the Good Shepherd?

If you want to turn to the Good Shepherd, make this your prayer.

Prayer:
Jesus, you say,  'I AM the Good Shepherd!' God alone used 'I AM' when speaking with Moses. You use it now to make it known that you are Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, and Prince of Peace. Thank you for being born and all that you are to me.  I heard you are the Good Shepherd. I want to thank you most of all for being the Good Shepherd even for me. I need a Good Shepherd in my life to lead me and guide me. My sin has made me dirty on the inside and attacks of Satan have wounded me. I have gone astray and have done my own thing. Yet, you care for me and laid down your life for me on the cross to give me new life as you shed your blood for me to wash away all my sins. Your Blood became the transfusion for those wounded by Satan. Your blood heals all the wounded areas to give me a new life. I want that new life so I turn to you now as a sheep that has gone astray and ask for your forgiveness of all my sins, to come and save me Jesus. Deliver me Oh Good Shepherd! I know you can save me when I turn to you and ask you to be my Good Shepherd. I know you died for me and came back to life to save. Now I can hear your voice in my heart as I stay with you. I want you to stay with me Jesus in my heart and make my heart your home so I can always have you as my Good Shepherd with me knowing you are my God and my Savior. This way even when I am going the wrong way or fall in a ditch, you can pick me and set me in green pastures. I love you Jesus! Thank you for being with me. Thank you for loving us so much that you were born in a stable in Bethlehem so one day you could become our Good Shepherd. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you for being the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for me the sheep and for coming back to life on the third day to save. Thank you for being the Lamb of God. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior and changing me. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)