And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. The census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that, while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 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 Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at these things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
- Luke 2:1-20, New King James Version
If you visit our house at this time of year, you will notice that we have a few – as in a couple of dozen – nativity scenes, with the characters from the Christmas story. We have one from Honduras made out of corn husks, one I bought in Nicaragua moulded in clay, painted on wood from El Salvador, a couple from Ecuador with the characters dressed in Inca peasant clothing, more from the Cayman Islands and Indonesia and Bethlehem itself, and my parents’ nativity set in the original box with the tag telling me they paid $2.97 at Kmart. Our latest one is a gift from the Ingleside congregation and is a Canadian nativity, with a moose and beaver as the animals, Mary and Joseph in Mountie uniforms, and the baby lying on a maple leaf. Someone said it looks like the police are apprehending the baby. That’s a different the Christmas story!
And not all these scenes have all the characters, other than, of course, Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. Some don’t have wise men. Some don’t have shepherds. Some don’t have the animals. But nearly all of them have an angel. Because, perhaps, angels have the main speaking part in the story we just read, telling the shepherds about the baby and what his world-changing birth means, and proclaiming God’s glory and peace on earth. This is important – and the most important line in the story is the very first thing the angel says.
Do not be afraid. These are words the shepherds need to hear; they are out, minding their own business, earning a living such as it was, and as the story says, this angel appears and God’s glory shines around them, and they are greatly afraid. Terrified. Scared out of their wits. And the angel says, “Don’t be afraid.”
And this isn’t the first time an angel says this in the Christmas story. These are words Mary needed to hear. An angel comes to her and tells her that she, a young unmarried woman, will become pregnant and will give birth to a child who she will name Jesus and who will be called the Son of God. And Mary, the story says, is confused. As you would be. And the angel says, “Don’t be afraid.”
Now, the news that his fiancé is pregnant causes Joseph just a bit of concern, and he decides to call off their engagement. But an angel appears to him in a dream, and says the words Joseph needed to hear. The angel says, “Don’t be afraid.”
What the shepherds needed to hear. What Mary needed to hear. What Joseph needed to hear. And, tonight, at Christmas of 2019, what we need to hear. Don’t be afraid. Because we spend a lot of time and effort being afraid – of what’s in the news, of changes in our culture, of what the future holds, of loss of a loved one or a relationship or a job or our health or even the Christmas we used to know. And the angel says, “Don’t be afraid… Look! I bring good news to you – wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your saviour is born today. He is Christ the Lord. You will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger” – and the angel’s words are true, and we will find our Saviour, God come to live among us, born as we were, in Bethlehem 20 centuries ago, and right here, right now, born in the hearts of everyone who makes room for him so they can sing with the angels, “glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace.”
