The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-12-20
What the Shepherds Saw in
Bethlehem Manager

''1here were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by nisht. ana
of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore
afraid; And the angel said unto them, Fear not; Tor, be,
hold, | bring you good tidings of great Joy, Wllch Sflan De
to all people And suddenly there was WIN '5e ansel
a multitude of the heavenly host praising ''od' ana saying,
toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels We're
gone away from them into heaven. the shepherds SAID one
to another. Let us go now even unto hetf'lerem' ana see
this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us.
In the above we have one of the most important in
cidents of history recorded. That certainly was a thrill
ing experience for those plain folks of the fields. Would
it not have been a great privilege to have been with the
shepherds upon this occason: And yet it is the privilege
of every true son and daughter of the heavenly Father to
see and hear what these especially favored people ex-
perienced. How enchanting must have been the music
and how glorious the vision.
Heaven is a place of perfect JOY. but there are times
when it has its special Delights and TINS was one OF them,
No wonder heavens joys were overlooking when it was
heralding to the world, sin wrecked, sin crushed, SIN lost,
such glorious news. If we would possess JOY overiowing
let us bring to SIN suneflhS humanity ahuoo'e lor olelf
heart breaks.
The impression was so great which was made upon
the minds and hearts Of the shepherds that they were de
termined to see with their own eyes that which had been
made known to them upon this significant occasion. The
question naturally presents itself: What did these shep,
herd folk see?
l.. They saw a child. Every child is an interesting
sight to behold. Every child is a bundle of mighty posi-
bilitieS and may become a great revelation Of God The
shepherds not only saw "a child, but they saw the child
through whom came to man the greatest revelation of God,
He was not born in royalty but he was royalty born in a man
ger. All are not royal who are born in palaces but all who
are royal will make palaces out of the most humble abodes
II. They saw the child who was born to give to
earth the grandest revelation of man. No one knows what
the babe in the cradle may become only as they study it's
possibilities through the Christ babe which was born in
the manager. He is the perfect man and through him
every man may become perfect lie can bring every life
to its full fruition if only he is given an opportunity.
III. They saw him who was born TO be the worlds
Saviour. The moral life has become vtiated by sin and
man has thus become a lost creature. Jesus Christ is his
only hope. Man is a free. moral agent and has the power
of choice. He may accept Jesus Christ and be saved or
he may reject him and be lost. Jesus Is yearning for an
opportunity to come into the life OF every man and thus
become his Saviour. He is a loving, compassionate
Saviour. He is a perfect and complete Saviour. He
can save to the uttermOSt from the uttermost sin. 3-He
is an ever enduring Saviour. One may wander away but
he will ever seek after the lost.
". They saw the child who was to become the
eartl, 5 greatest teacher. ''He S|ake as no other man
ever spake."
V. They saw the child who only had the light to
CHE sovereignty of the world. They also saw the worlds
treat Shepherd. Counsellor and Comforter.