“And the angel said to them [the shepherds], ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”
(Luke 2:10-11 ESV)
Advent invites us to slow down and listen again to words we heard so many times and think we already know. Yet in just two verses, the angel’s announcement to the shepherds unfolds a message so rich and layered that it reshapes how we understand Christmas itself.
The angel begins with two simple but powerful words: “Fear not.” That opening matters more than we often realize.
“Fear Not” — When Heaven Draws Near
Throughout the Scriptures, encounters between heaven and earth are moments of disruption rather than ease. Whether the encounter is with the Angel of YHWH — who speaks and acts with God’s own authority — or with created angels, the human response is pretty much always fear. Zechariah trembles in the temple (Luke 1:12). Gideon fears for his life after encountering the Angel of YHWH (Judg. 6:22). Daniel collapses, drained of strength, before a heavenly messenger (Dan. 10:7-9). Human beings instinctively recognize that they are encountering someone or something from the divine realm.
Yet again and again, the same words are spoken: “Do not fear.” This is true whether the speaker is the Angel of YHWH or an ordinary angelic messenger. The fear is real — but it is not meant to have the final word.
The reason is crucial. God’s purpose in revealing himself is never intimidation but redemption. Divine presence exposes human frailty, but divine intention is always to demonstrate mercy.
This makes the shepherds’ experience especially striking. They are terrified — but the angel does not overpower them or coerce them into submission. Instead, he reassures them. When God or his angels appear in the gospels this is marked by peace, clarity, and invitation.
This stands in sharp contrast to other claimed revelations in religious history. In early Islamic tradition, Muhammad’s first encounter with the angel Jibril (Gabriel) is described as physically violent. According to the earliest sources, the angel seized Muhammad, pressed or choked him until he could not breathe, repeating this multiple times while commanding him to recite the words that supposedly came from Allah. The encounter left Muhammad deeply shaken, fearing he might be possessed or doomed, to the point that he even contemplated suicide.
Luke’s account moves in the opposite direction. When the God of Israel or his angels draw near, human fear is acknowledged — but it is immediately met with reassurance. Heaven does not force humanity into obedience. It speaks peace into fear.
“Fear not,” the angel says, “for behold, I bring you good news of great joy.”
Good News — A Royal Announcement
The message itself is called “good news.” The Greek word is εὐαγγέλιον (euaggelion). In the ancient world, this word indicated a royal proclamation — announcements of a king’s birth, victory, or accession to the throne.
Luke is telling us that what happened in Bethlehem was nothing less than a royal announcement. A King has been born.
And this euaggelion produces “great joy.” Not forced emotion, but the deep joy that arises when people recognize that God has not abandoned his world — and them. Joy follows surrender, not fear.
The City of David — and the Irony of Empire
This King is born in the “city of David.” Jesus stands firmly within Israel’s covenant story as the promised heir to David’s throne.
Yet the moment is orchestrated as the result of a decree from Caesar Augustus. An empire issues a census; heaven announces a King. Political power believes it is directing history, while God quietly fulfills his promises.
A Savior — God Who Saves
The child is called “Savior.” Jesus’ original name in the Hebrew is Yeshua, which means “YHWH saves.” This is not rescue at a distance. God himself steps into the human story to save humanity from sin, exile, and death.
Christ the Lord — Messiah and YHWH in the Flesh
The angel continues: this child is “the Christ.” The Greek word christos translates the Hebrew word Mashiach — Messiah, the Anointed King of Israel.
And finally, he is “Lord.” The Greek κύριος (kurios) is the word used in the Septuagint wherever the divine name YHWH appears. Luke’s readers would have grasped the claim immediately: this baby is not only Messiah; he is YHWH in the flesh.
Advent Is an Invitation
This is why Christmas is not merely nostalgic or sentimental. It is the announcement that God has come near — not to terrorize us, but to redeem us. The good news begins not with threat, but with grace. The shepherds are not forced into submission. They are invited to come and see. And what they find is astonishing: a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord himself — lying in a manger.
Advent reminds us that when God comes near, fear does not have the final word. Joy does.
To evangelize is simply to echo the angel’s announcement:
The King has come.
And the King is coming back soon.
Are you ready for his return?
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