“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby. And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child. The shepherds glorified and praised God for all they had seen and heard.” 1. Common laborers
“Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star and are come to worship him.” Royal Astrologers
King Herod was deeply disturbed. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote.” 2.
“This man was devout and looking for the Consolation of Israel…it had been revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ, the Messiah…“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared for all people.” 3. Old man in the temple
“Let’s see. . . I’m looking… where is He?” I see the fanfare, the star, the angels, the place of worship. But where is He? My heart craves a glimpse of Him. How do I find Him? Will angels tell me? Will friends tell me? Will religious teachers tell me? Will God tell me?
“Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.” 4.
“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?
“Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” 5.
They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” 6.
“The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.” 7.
I don’t think I’ll see angels or Jesus, or hear God’s voice. But I have the testimony of those who did. It’s been preserved down through the centuries and I can read their experiences whenever I slow down and take the time to read them. And it’s there that I see Him.
- Luke 2:15-20
- Matthew 2:2-4
- Luke 2:25-32
- Matthew 28:5-7
- John 20:15-18
- John 20:25-29
- John 20:30-31