CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
Luke 2:8-20
ONE OF THE GREAT EVENTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY took place on July 20th, 1969, at exactly 4:17 P.M., EDT, when the Lunar Module “Eagle” landed on the surface of the moon. The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the moon. It was the 5th human spaceflight of Project Apollo and the 3rd human voyage to the moon.
The mission fulfilled President John F. Kennedy’s goal of reaching the moon by the end of the 1960s, which he expressed during a speech given before a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.”
That goal was realized when at precisely 10:56 P.M., astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon. He was followed shortly by Buzz Aldrin. This was purported to be the most amazing achievement ever by mankind. And of course, Armstrong spoke his famous line "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
But let me tell you of another leap that was even more amazing. God walked on the earth. He visited this planet to bring deliverance and hope. He didn’t have to take a space ship. At precisely the right time, according to the Father’s timetable, the earth-walk was achieved. Remarkable as it was, Armstrong’s moon venture pales in comparison to what is absolutely the most amazing event ever—the incarnation—God taking on human form. That’s what we celebrate every December. And among His many astounding words were those that echo throughout time and eternity: “I have come to give you life, and that more abundantly” (John 10:10).
In keeping with the theme of space exploration, let me draw your attention to a sci-fi film produced back in the 70’s about visitors from outer space called, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
First encounter: sighting
Second encounter: communication
Third encounter: making it public
In Luke 2, we have recorded for us the invasion of planet earth by a being from beyond the galaxies—God Himself! In this brief account, we have the shepherd’s reaction to this invasion.
I. FIRST ENCOUNTER: THE SIGHTING (8-17)
The sighting was two-fold. First the shepherds saw the angels and then they saw the babe.
God sent an emissary to announce the arrival. It may have been Gabriel who is known as the angel of good news. God’s way of sending a birth announcement was certainly unique.
The initial reaction on the part of the shepherds was fear (vs.10). The brightness of the Lord shone all around them. Suddenly a vast number of angels appeared and the noise they made praising God (whether singing or shouting, we’re not sure) must have been very frightening and awe-inspiring.
Don’t you find it a bit strange that after this encounter the shepherds didn’t say, “Now what was that all about? What is all this talk of a Savior and Messiah and babe in a manager?” They didn’t react that way because they were looking for Him to come.
The Old Testament prophesied that there would be a time when God would come, in human form, into human history. Centuries before the birth of Christ it was prophesied that when the Messiah was born He would come from the tribe of David and that He would be born in Bethlehem. Contrast this with the reaction of Herod when he heard from the Wisemen that Jesus had been born---he had to call in the religious leaders to find out where it took place (Matthew 2:1-6).
You see, the shepherds were looking for Him and Herod was not. Only those who are longing and searching will really see. Only seekers find. That is a law of God written into the universe.
There are multitudes today who are looking for something to give them peace and purpose. We must announce the good news to them.
The Scriptures tell us that the shepherds hurried to the manger. And why not? At last, that which they had longed for had become a reality. They were privileged to behold the glory of God in the face of the little babe.
Although we can no longer behold Him physically, down throughout the centuries thousands have received Christ by faith. God has become real to them because they know He is like Jesus. We who know Him should earnestly pray that during this season and in the days to come, there will be many “sightings of the Savior.”
An obstetrician approached an anxious father in the waiting room of a New York City hospital and said, “I am sorry to inform you, but your baby lived but two hours after his birth. We did everything we could to save his life.” As the sympathetic doctor was about to leave, the quick thinking father said, “I read only recently that human eyes are needed in cornea transplants. Could my baby’s eyes be used to enable someone to see again?” The next day the Red Cross carried an eye to two different hospitals. In one, a corneal graft restored the sight of a working man with a large family. In the other, sight was given to a mother. A babe, who lived only two hours, gave physical sight to a grateful father and mother. Some 2,000 years ago a Babe come into our sin-darkened world to give spiritual sight to all who will receive it without money and without price. At His coming, “the people that walked in darkness saw a great light.”
II. THE COMMUNICATION (vs.20)
Notice verse 20: “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”
How many times has this scene been repeated by those who through the eyes have seen God through Jesus? The way is now open to communicate directly with God. We read His Word and He speaks to us. Through prayer, praise, and worship, we speak to Him.
Think of it! Mere humans communicating with the LORD of lords and KING of kings—Creator and Sustainer of all that is!
And the more we communicate, the more knowledge of God we gain…oh, perhaps not all the secrets of the universe, but enough to enable us to live a more full and complete life with a sure hope for the future.
And that’s not all! This visitor from beyond time and space is now in the process of preparing a beautiful place for us to inhabit. It’s beyond the stars and it’s beyond our imaginations.
III. MAKING IT PUBLIC (vs.17)
And now we come to the third kind of encounter---making it known! To these shepherds the angelic message, the anthem, and the visit to the manger formed one unified and complete picture.
And thus they preached it. They enjoyed the honor of being the first evangelists.
Sherwood Eddy interviewed 25 young communists in Moscow one day and asked each one how many hours he gave to the party each day. Not one of them gave less than 3 hours daily telling others about the virtues of communism. Some of them gave as much as 9 hours each day, witnessing to their beliefs.
Can it be that Karl Marx has more witnesses in this generation than Jesus Christ? Is this what Jesus meant when He asked, “Will I find any faith on the earth when I return?”
Thank God for His children who obey in sustained manner the command, “Go…tell…how great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you” Mark 5:19b).
Swept along on the wave of worldwide elation over the lunar landing and their safe return to earth, President Nixon said, “This is the greatest week since the beginning of the world! Nothing has changed the world more than this mission.”
I heartily disagree. The greatest and most wondrous event in the world occurred when the angelic being announced long ago the hope-enkindling advent of the Savior: “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born…a Savior.”
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” That light is available for all who will by faith embrace it. Then, as the shepherds of old, we can spread the good news abroad.
