The Shepherds Returned

“The Shepherds Returned.” Lk.2: 15-20

(Dec.28, 2025)

Opening Illustration: Christmas is over, but not the CELEBRATION!

Wrapping paper is tossed

Directions finally read

Pine needles - Swept, ornaments removed and packed, tree tossed.

Yet,

Today, We must hear the truth about Jesus' birth to keep us from relegating the birth of Jesus to a sentimental and seasonal children's story that we safely file away with the manger figurines until next year. Those whispers of Jesus’ coming we’ve been hearing about these last few weeks, have erupted into shouts of His arrival!

Let us pray!

So we turn to the text, God’s infallible revelation to us Lk.2:15-20.

“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.”16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

THE BIG IDEA I WANT US TO HEAR TODAY IS:

“WHEN JESUS IS REVEALED, WE NEED TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY”

We start with v. 15-16;

““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.”16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

The first thing we note,

1.In response to HEARING God’s revelation about Jesus, they HURRIED off! v.15-16

Scripture tells us that “knowledge puffs up…” 1 Cor.8:1 and that, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Jam.2:17

There are many people, even many who profess to be Christians, that have knowledge about the facts of Scripture, they heard the Gospel many times, but have no real faith. They don’t react appropriately, or at all.

But, When God reveals Himself, His will, He expects us to respond appropriately.

When God revealed the truth about Jesus’ birth, notice the shepherds reaction. “They hurried off…” The Greek word indicates urgency, without hesitation, they rushed to Bethlehem. That was an appropriate response to the astounding news and vision they heard and seen recorded back in V. 11-12;

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

So they rushed to Bethlehem. We might be tempted to say, “Well that’s a no brainer.” “If I saw those angels, I’d rush to Bethlehem too.” But as I said, some people have knowledge but they don’t act on that knowledge because it’s not combined with faith. Remember when the Magi showed up at Herod’s door? In Mt.2, we read;

““Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,?    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;?for out of you will come a ruler?    who will shepherd my people Israel.”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Notice, the Chief priests and the teachers of the Law, they all had the knowledge, they knew were Messiah would be born, they knew the prophecy about the RULER, the STAR that would arise, yet there is no indication that any of them responded appropriately. Not one went with the Magi! Apparently, they yawned and went back to bed!

Knowledge and dead faith are worthless unless they lead to action! Knowledge about and faith in God are worthless unless it leads to obedience and worship. As one writer put it;

“So I remind myself: the goal of theology is not to *possess* truth, but to be *possessed* by it. I don’t study God to appear wise—I study so that my heart might be changed, my love for Him deepened, and my life shaped by what I believe.”