Come and See

🎄 December Theme: The Journey to the Manger

📖 Scripture

Luke 2:15–20 (NIV)
“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.”

📚 Background

After the angels announced the birth of the Messiah, the shepherds didn’t stay in the fields—they responded. They went to Bethlehem to see the Savior for themselves. Their journey mirrors the call of every believer: to come, behold Christ, and be transformed by the reality of His arrival.

The shepherds were the first witnesses of the incarnation—God in human flesh. Their response of worship, proclamation, and joy reveals the proper response to the birth of Jesus. His coming is not passive news; it is life‑altering truth for all humankind.

💬 Devotional

The shepherds’ words—“Let’s go… and see this thing that has happened”—capture the heart of the gospel invitation. God had acted. The Savior had come. And the only fitting response was to draw near.

When they arrived at the manger, they didn’t find a throne or a palace. They found a baby—God wrapped in humanity, lying in humility. Yet in that simple scene was the fullness of God’s love, the beginning of redemption, and the hope of reconciliation for the world.

The birth of Jesus is God’s declaration that He has come close. He did not wait for humanity to climb toward Him; He stepped into our world to save us. The manger is the doorway to salvation, the beginning of the mission that would lead to the cross and the empty tomb.

The shepherds left the manger changed. They returned glorifying and praising God, unable to keep silent about what they had seen. That is the power of encountering Christ—He transforms ordinary people into joyful witnesses.

On our journey to the manger, we are invited to “come and see” the Savior who brings light, hope, and reconciliation to all humankind.

🪞 Reflection Questions

What does the shepherds’ eagerness to see Jesus reveal about how we should respond to His birth?
How does the reality of God coming near in Christ shape your understanding of His love?
In what ways can you share the good news of Jesus with others, as the shepherds did?

🛠️ Application: Living It Out

Draw near to Christ. Spend intentional time in Scripture or prayer today, reflecting on the wonder of His birth.
Respond with worship. Let gratitude and praise shape your attitude, just as it shaped the shepherds’ journey home.
Share the good news. Look for one opportunity to speak about Christ’s hope, peace, or love to someone in your life.

📌 Key Takeaways

The shepherds responded to the birth of Jesus with urgency, wonder, and worship.
The manger reveals God’s nearness—He came to reconcile humankind to Himself.
Encountering Christ leads to transformation and joyful proclamation.
The journey to the manger invites us to “come and see” the Savior who brings hope to the world.