“And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.” (Luke 2:18, ESV)
As I was contemplating the Christmas story recently, this small line tucked into Luke’s Gospel caught my attention. They wondered. They marveled. Their hearts were soft enough and open enough to be amazed.
I sometimes worry that we’re losing that.
We live in a world where almost nothing is mysterious anymore. If we have a question, we don’t sit with it; we Google it. If we feel curious, we don’t ponder; we ask ChatGPT. If something confuses us, we find a YouTube video explanation in seconds. The entire Internet lives in our pocket, ready to give us the instant gratification of knowledge whenever we summon it. And while that can be helpful at times, it comes with a cost: We rarely wonder anymore.
Wonder requires slowing down long enough to feel astonished. It needs a heart that hasn’t been numbed by busyness or hardened by cynicism. These people in Bethlehem had hearts like this. When the smelly, unpolished shepherds showed up with unbelievable news, they didn’t scoff or shrug. They didn’t demand proof or ask for credentials. They didn’t get distracted. They simply wondered.
In a world surrounded by movement, screens, and constant noise, it’s difficult to marvel. It’s hard to be amazed when everything can be explained with a few clicks. And to be honest, it’s hard to be wowed by God when the small spark of wonder gets buried beneath notifications.
But, for a follower of Jesus, wonder is a part of how faith grows. Wonder is the step that leads to worship. Before obedience takes shape, amazement often opens the door. I think this is what God wants to restore in us when He invites us to develop a childlike faith — the ability to be moved and be surprised by His grace and love.
This Christmas, maybe the invitation is simple — slow down long enough to marvel again. Step outside and look at the stars like the shepherds did (remember, those are the same stars that they looked at!). Sit in silence for a few minutes. Notice something beautiful. Let yourself be astonished by grace, by the joy of a child, by the God who still steps into ordinary places with extraordinary love.
Merry Christmas!
Josh Rose
Family Pastor