XIII. The First Visitors to Bethlehem


The angels' song died away in the solemn silence, and the shepherds were
left alone. It was a critical hour with them. Would they follow this
vision and turn it into victory, or would they let it vanish with the
last echo of the song and relapse into the old dull routine? No, they
did not let it pass, and life was never the same to them again. "Let us
now go," they said, "even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is
come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." They translated
vision into action and presently were climbing the rocky slope to
Bethlehem. Had these shepherds not followed up the message their
knowledge of their Messiah would have immediately been cut short. We
hear divine messages and see heavenly visions enough, but too often we
let them fade into forgetfulness and pass into nothingness. A message
does us no good until it becomes action, the grandest vision that ever
swept through our brain or illuminated our sky leaves no vestige of
worth unless it is turned into conduct and character. "Let us now go and
see this thing." We do not know Christ until we see him as our Saviour.
Seeing is believing, this is the simplicity of faith, and when we see
Christ through the direct vision and personal experience of faith and
obedience we are transfigured into his likeness.

"And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe
lying in the manger." Were they disappointed at the humble mother, wife
of a workingman, and at the manger cradle? These did not match the
desire and expectation of the Jews. They had long cherished the
passionate hope of an earthly prince who would come wearing purple
robes and marshaling armies to trample hated oppressors under feet and