They did not stay to "confer with flesh and blood;" to reason, and doubt, and hesitate, whether this might not be a delusion; but, in the true simplicity of faith, improved the heavenly warning, and hastened to Bethlehem, in full assurance of meeting with every thing conformable to the notice they had received.
Ver. 16. "And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."
Glorious confirmation and reward of the shepherds' faith! O that all who call themselves Christians, would with the same child-like simplicity surrender themselves to Jesus Christ! They have frequent and sufficient warnings of his kind intentions towards them. They are assured, that he is the Light and Life of men; and that if they apply to him, they will receive the most salutary manifestations of this Life and Light in their souls. Were they to listen and obey these warnings, and go as they are directed, they would as surely find this Heavenly Babe in their hearts, as the shepherds found him in the stable at Bethlehem.
Ver. 17. "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child."
In like manner, the true Believer, who hath experienced the operation of the Spirit of God bearing witness with his spirit, that the Child Jesus is born in his heart, cannot but "make known abroad," what he has felt and experienced of this spiritual birth, though his testimony rarely produces any better effects upon his hearers, than that of wonder and astonishment.
Ver. 18. "And all they that heard it, wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds."
"They were greatly amazed, and at a loss to know, what to make of the report. They could not think it likely, that such a set of plain, honest, undesigning men should have formed the story, and should go about to impose it on the world. They could not but know, indeed, that their testimony was strengthened by a general expectation, at that time, of the Messiah's appearance, and by the prevailing opinion that his birth would be at Bethlehem: yet they were astonished, that he should be born of such mean parents, and in such despicable circumstances; and that persons of such low figure as these shepherds, should be the men to whom God had sent an Angel to reveal it."
From the conduct of the shepherds, the Evangelist passes to that of the Blessed Virgin, which differs much from theirs, as might indeed be expected from her different situation and circumstances. For whereas, "they made known abroad the saying that was told them concerning this child," we are assured, that
Ver. 19. "Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."
By "these things," we are doubtless to understand the whole series of astonishing events, from the first salutation of the Angel, to this visit of the shepherds.