Jesus Amazed Many

What did Jesus Do?

...and all who heard were amazed at what the shepherds said.
Luke 2.18

The world's first evangelists were not professional theologians. In fact, they probably hadn't ever been to school at all. It's doubtful they could read or write. But they had the one thing absolutely essential for successful evangelism—faith. You just can't proclaim Good News if you don't first believe it yourself. Unbelieving shepherds would have calmed and quieted their flocks, and returned to their vigil.

The Bible tells us that the shepherds went “with haste” to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger (Luke 2.16). Everything was just as the angel had said, and so the shepherds immediately started to fill everyone in on what had occurred that night. Evangelism, the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ, literally began just moments after the Savior's birth. The first to hear the Gospel were amazed at the shepherd's testimony. And, to this day, true evangelists continue to amaze the world with their witness.

Perhaps the most amazing, and tragic, thing about evangelism is that so many people continue to be unimpressed by it. While God still calls the elect through the tool of evangelism, the reprobate remain as unmoved, as un-amazed, by the Good News as ever. Yet, we have no direct way of knowing who's who; it isn't possible to look at someone and tell if their name is recorded in the Father's Book of Life or not. So, like the first evangelists, the shepherds, we too need to tell everyone what we know about Christ, the Lord. That's how evangelism has always worked—those who know tell those who don't.

And, just in case we think we lack the necessary qualifications to evangelize because we haven't a seminary degree, remember, the shepherds had no special training, all they had was the Good News and their faith. The Good News of Jesus Christ still amazes men, women, and children, all it takes is the telling.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4