Make Haste!

 

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger."

(Luke 2:16)

When our children were young, I don't recall a single Christmas where I had to wake them up. I never had to set an alarm clock in their rooms to awaken them, they got up fine all on their own, and usually too early. Because they weren't allowed to open presents without mom and dad, they made haste and were very zealous to awaken us too.

When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the angel never commanded the shepherds to go and find the Baby, it was pretty much assumed that they would just go. The angel told them "you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." They were given no command, no directions, no explanation as to what to do when they found the Babe, just "you will find."

I love these wonderful shepherds because of how they responded to the angel's good news. As soon as the heavenly choir had finished their chorus of praise, like children who don't need to be awakened on Christmas morning, they made haste and found Jesus. They didn't hesitate or discuss or debate, they just went. Think of how busy their minds had to have been with fear, awe, wonder, and questions, yet they made haste. The word "found" gives the idea of giving diligent search, so they weren't casual in their pursuit of Jesus, they knew they were on an important mission.

We ought not have to be commanded to find Jesus this Christmas. No alarm clock is needed nor angel to announce. He is the gift, He is the joy, He is the song we sing, make haste you will find Him, and you will have a very Merry Christmas indeed!