But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2: 10, NIV.
Dear God we thank You so much that the birth of Your Son has brought us the Good News of great joy, to take the place of our fears. Please make this plain to us as we study Your Word. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
It is just wonderful to see how much the birth of Jesus has done for the human race, and for all creation! He has brought “God to us (Emmanuel). He has made it possible for all to find Him, if we seek Him with all our heart. He became the Savior for all people (Jesus)! Today, we will study how He came and took away our fear. And this Good News is for all people! Amen!
For many people, walking in darkness is a fearful thing, because darkness can hide many dangers that lurk around us. People will light candles, carry lanterns, use flashlights – anything that will dissipate the darkness and shed light on their paths. In Isaiah 9: 2, we read the following: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” This was the condition of Israel when the prophecy of the birth of the Son of God was given. Let us read it together:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” (6, 7).
You will notice that the prophecy states that the Son was “given” “to us.” (I have said this before). This is another one of the great blessings that the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ has brought to the world; it joined the families of heaven and earth, and made of the two, one! He is the “one and only,” God-Man. Because of this, we, His followers, have this incomparable blessing: “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2: 6,7)!
That is why, we find the angel reacting the way he did when John fell at his feet to worship him: “At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God” (Revelation 19: 10, a, b)! Christ, with His arm of flesh, reached down and took hold of the human race; and with His divine arm, held on to the Father; and He became “the way, the truth and the life!” No one can come to the Father, except it be through Him (John 14: 6)! Knowing all of this, we can truly encourage one another with the words: “Do not be afraid!
Aren’t you glad that the Savior came? I am! Enjoy the season!