Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
A strange thing had come to the shepherds that night near Bethlehem and they needed some calming words to still the fear that had come over them. Look, the angel said to them, it is good tidings of great joy. For the shepherds it was a simple fear - angels did not normally appear to them suddenly in the darkness. It was a mercy that just one appeared at first, because the heavenly host came just as suddenly and they had a message too. Without that first one to ease their fear, those shepherds might have taken flight before the message could be delivered. Strange, unusual, uncanny even? Absolutely, but this was and is the most unusual birth in all of history. And yet, the baby to be named Jesus also came into the world in the usual way. When the shepherds arrived to see the child, they may have wondered who could be afraid of the little baby. And yet, the powers of darkness called for child sacrifice before that birth and they have desired it since that time, so they must be afraid of something to come from the birth of a child. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world has been born in Bethlehem! Such tidings of gladness and joy for us and those shepherds.
Have a Merry Christmas Day in Christ our Lord!
Bucky
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