At that first Christmas two thousand years ago, many people heard the news of Jesus’ birth—but not all of them met the Baby Himself. Even the residents of Bethlehem, who were the “hosts” of the event, did not recognize Him. The city of Jerusalem was merely stirred when they heard from the Magi that the King of the Jews had been born, yet they, too, never saw the Child. And perhaps the most tragic of all were the scribes and the Pharisees—the religious experts, those who should have been the most eager to meet the Messiah—but they also never met Him.
So, who met the Baby Jesus? The shepherds in the fields of Ephrathah. As soon as they heard the news of His birth, they left their flocks behind—they abandoned their duties for the sake of meeting the newborn Savior. That night, there was an urgency, a deep-seated need, that compelled them to go, even though it meant taking a risk. They could have lost some of their sheep, perhaps many of them. Yet what is even more remarkable are the Magi from the East. They traveled hundreds of kilometers, bore the cost and danger of the journey, left their homeland, and went to a foreign place—risking their very lives.
When they finally found the Child, Scripture records that they bowed down and worshiped Him. How did they know this Child was the King? They truly believed—and their actions proved their conviction. They offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh—precious gifts that would later become vital for raising the Child. It is no wonder that afterward an angel appeared to them, warning them not to return by the same route.
Now, the question for us today is this: Will we—will all Christians who celebrate Christmas—truly meet the Lord Jesus one day? Many Christians, perhaps nearly all, do not see themselves as opposing Jesus. During Christmas, they express their support and affection for Him, feeling that they are already on His side. That sense of solidarity brings comfort and peace to the heart.
Yet few take the matter seriously—few honestly wrestle with the question: Will I one day meet Jesus, who now reigns as King? This is something we must take seriously, even if we are pastors or church leaders. Let us not be confident with an empty conviction. Do not simply assume, “I will go to heaven; God will accept me.” That is speculation—a gamble. It may sound “strange,” but this is something we must honestly confront.
We can begin by asking ourselves: “In God’s eyes, have I shared in His holiness? In God’s eyes, have I put on the divine nature? In God’s eyes, have I been doing the Father’s will? In God’s eyes, am I pleasing to Him?”
These questions must be deeply examined. We must learn to tremble before God. Do not dismiss the uneasiness or doubt that may arise within us, because such holy doubt can actually lead us to take God more seriously. In the past, we were taught not to doubt and to be certain of our place in heaven. But now, having gained a deeper understanding of truth, we realize that Scripture itself tells us, “Examine yourselves! Do not assume that you are standing firm!” Many will think they are accepted by God, crying out, “Lord, Lord!”—yet He will reject them.
Therefore, do not push away this kind of doubt; instead, let it awaken you and lead you into a genuine struggle—to honestly question whether, on that day, we will be found worthy to meet the King, for Jesus will come again. Two thousand years ago, He came as a weak and humble Baby, but when He returns, He will come as the Sovereign King in all His glory. No one will stand before Him without trembling. His majesty will be overwhelming; the authority of His Kingdom will be awe-inspiring. And so, we must ask: Will we be found precious in His sight? The answer depends entirely on this—whether we consider Him precious today.