What Would You Do?

I’m a very curious person. I'll bet I drove my parents crazy with all the questions I asked. I want to know the what’s, why’s, how’s, and when’s. I want details not just bottom lines. Sometimes the scriptures lead me to questions for which God doesn't give answers. And I even want to know why He doesn't give all the answers.

One of the questions I have involves the Christmas story in Luke chapter two. I really get into the account of Mary and Joseph’s arrival in Bethlehem. The birth of the baby I’m sure was like what women go through today but without drugs, doctors, hospitals, or sanitization. And I really don't want those details. I like the account of the angels appearing to the shepherds. That seems to be very thorough. And then the visit of the shepherds to the new baby is described. Then the story kind of ends abruptly.

Verses 17-20

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Who did they tell? What did the people that heard wonder about? The Greek words are “akousantes ethaumasan” (don’t even try to pronounce this) which means they comprehended and understood the ramifications of what the shepherds said and it amazed, astonished, and caused them to speculate about this birth. Did they believe the shepherds? Did anyone else go to the stable to see this miracle? Did these shepherds ever follow up on the life of Christ?  The story was stopped too soon. My questions are not ever answered. Why did God stop the story here?

It has made me and my overactive imagination take over. Did the wife of one shepherd say, “You left the sheep? That’s our only income. You would jeopardize our future on a baby?” Did the children of one shepherd say, “Daddy, take me. Take me to see this baby. And tell us the story again!” Did one shepherd tell his family that they were going to follow this little baby because one day He would proclaim that He was the Messiah? Were any of those shepherds or their witnesses in Jerusalem at the time of Christ's crucifixion and did they remember the "Bethlehem story"?

And then I began to wonder what I would do if I were living at that time and a shepherd told me this fantastical tail. Would I believe and want to go worship? Or who would I tell if I was one of the few people in the entire world that experienced this angelic event? Would I tell my family, my friends, even complete strangers?

Maybe that’s what God in His wisdom not to resolve the story wants us to do. Maybe He wants us to make the faith decision to believe or not to believe that this historical occurrence is true. Maybe He wants us to glorify, praise and tell others of the reality of Christ that we have experienced in our lives with the enthusiasm of the shepherds.

What am I going to do with this story?

What would you do?