Discovering the Promise of Christmas: The Fearful Are Called to Tell

The fearful shepherds were the first group of people who heard about the Promise of Christmas as they tended their flocks of sheep near the little town of Bethlehem.

The Fearful

The sound of bleating sheep filled the air as the shepherds began to settle down for the night. They feasted on bread and herbs for their evening meal, and in the distance, they could still hear the bustle of travelers entering the nearby city of Bethlehem.

“I’m glad we’re out here in the quiet,” one of the herdsmen commented. “The city is going to be crowded for the next few days.”

As they sat around the campfire, the men all agreed. 

“I heard talk that the city was so crowded, they were running out of places for people to stay,” remarked another.

With darkness settling in, the long workday began to catch up with the men. They reclined on their bedding, and as the sheep lay down to rest, the evening fell soothingly quiet.

They continued the small talk of the day’s activities and tomorrow’s plans; of family problems, worldly affairs, and future dreams. And the night continued; the stars showed brightly in the sky. The moon was so large that it seemed like one could reach up and touch it. 

Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a strange man standing before them! But he was no ordinary man. His stature was abnormally large, and there was a glow about him as if the sun was shining down through him, but it was still night. When he spoke, his voice boomed so loudly that the sheep should have been startled, but they lay quietly.

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

Peace overcame their fear as the shepherds listened intently to the angel’s message. They had heard of the Christ, the coming Messiah, all of their life. He would be the Savior of their people. But He was a baby? Here? Now?

As the men pondered the message, the sky above burst open with a brilliant glow of light shining down around them. Covering their eyes, they looked up and saw thousands of angels in the sky hovering over their fields. Their voices boomed as the shepherds heard them say,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

And as quickly as the angels appeared, they were gone. The night sky became dark again; the silence shattered by the announcement was now eerily quiet.

The shepherds looked at each other in amazement. They had to go to Bethlehem and find this Child! Together they ran the few miles into the city.

Not knowing where this baby would be, they searched the city, telling everyone they saw about the wondrous message they had received from the angels.

And then they came to the innkeeper’s stable. Quietly they approached the opening of the stable. There wasn’t much light, but they could see the silhouette of a woman holding a baby; a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. As the woman laid the sleeping baby in a manger, they stepped up closer and bowed to worship Him.

Mary was amazed as she watched the men approach her newborn baby and recognize Him as the Son of God. She knew Who He was, but she had no idea how the shepherds knew Who He was until they told of their wonderful visit from the angels and the message they had heard.

Pulling themselves away from adoring the babe, the excited shepherds ran through the streets of Bethlehem announcing the news of the birth of the Messiah!

The men who were trembling in fear a few hours earlier were now boldly exclaiming the good news of Jesus’ birth; the long-awaited Christ; the promised Savior. (Luke 2:8-15)

Are You One of the Fearful?

Although fear is a natural action that can keep us safe when danger is near, fear can also be debilitating. It can cause us to be inactive when action is needed, or silenced when we need to speak. Sometimes it causes us to speak words that shouldn’t be spoken (that’s never pretty).

The shepherds were afraid when the angel first appeared to them. But their fear was overshadowed by the truth of God’s message. And then their fear turned to courage as they ran into town to tell of the awesome things that they had seen and heard.

 The Fearful Are Called to Tell

If you are a Christian, I’m sure you have been encouraged to tell others about your experience of salvation. As soon as Christ entered your heart, you may have been excited to tell someone what happened to you but couldn’t find the words or the courage to share your story.

God has called each of us to share the good news of Christ’s deliverance and our personal experience. We can blame our fear on Satan, we can blame it on others, or we can dismiss it as non-essential, yet, you are the only one who can tell your story of redemption. 

If you struggle with telling your story of redemption, or maybe you feel fearful at the thought of talking to others about how God has made a difference in your life, let me encourage you to sit down, write out your story, and practice telling it.

Take courage knowing that someone is waiting to hear how you met the Promise of Christmas.