A Shepherd’s Christmas: A 5-Day Plan Through Luke's Account of the Birth of Christნიმუში

Day 4: The Shepherds Found Jesus

When the angels disappeared, the shepherds were faced with a choice. They could have stayed with their flocks, clinging to their responsibilities. But instead, they said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about” (Luke 2:15 ESV).

They hurried. They didn’t hesitate. They left behind their sheep, their source of livelihood, and rushed to find Jesus. And when they arrived, they found him just as the angel had said.

The shepherds’ response is a challenge for us. How often do we let busyness or responsibilities keep us from seeking Christ? Especially at Christmas, we can be so consumed with the “good things”—family gatherings, giving gifts, traditions—that we neglect the “God thing.”

Jesus once said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8 ESV). A pure heart isn’t divided by distractions. The shepherds had one focus: to find the child. And because they sought him, they saw him. (Matthew 7:7–8 and Jeremiah 29:13)

Today, people still find Jesus in many ways, through Scripture, prayer, worship, and even through the witness of others. Most often, people come to know him because they see him reflected in the lives of his followers. Just as the shepherds’ testimony pointed others to Christ, our lives can point people to him also.

This Christmas, what might you need to leave behind to truly see Jesus? What distractions have crowded your heart? The shepherds remind us that finding Christ is worth any sacrifice. When we kneel at the manger, everything else fades in importance.

Take time this season to seek him. The baby born in Bethlehem still meets us when we come with open hearts.

Reflection Questions:

1. What good things in your holiday schedule might need to be set aside for the sake of seeking Jesus?
2. Where can you intentionally make space to encounter Christ this Christmas?
3. Who helped you meet Jesus, and how can you do the same for someone else?