Fear Not - God's Plan Includes Joy

Bible Book: Luke 2 : 1-20

Subject: Christmas; Jesus, Birth of; Joy in Jesus

Series: Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Introduction

All this month, we have been studying the Biblical passages that are often associated with the Christmas narrative, and we have been focusing on the repeated refrain found in the words “Fear Not.” In Luke chapter 1, and Matthew chapter 1, and Luke chapter 2, this phrase “Fear Not” is found four times. As Warren Wiersbe said…

“Fear not!” is one of the key themes of the Christmas story.

As I have thought about this repeated message of “Fear Not,” I have borrowed the words of the chorus of the old English Christmas carol, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” as the theme of this series. I’ve called it … “Tidings of Comfort and Joy.”

We find such “tidings of comfort and joy” declared in a place of barrenness in Luke 1:13…

(Luke 1:13) But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

We’re told here that there is no reason to fear because God Responds To Prayer! This was consolation for a Senior’s Home.

We find “tidings of comfort and joy” declared in a place of blessing in Luke 1:30…

(Luke 1:30) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

We’re told here that there is no reason to fear because God Reaches Out To People! This was consolation for a Solitary Heart.

We find “tidings of comfort and joy” declared in a place of battles in Matthew 1:20…

(Matthew 1:20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

We’re told here that there is no reason to fear because God Resolves Problems! This was a consolation for a Struggling Household.

And then, of course, we find “tidings of comfort and joy” declared in a place called Bethlehem in Luke 2:10…

(Luke 2:10) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

We’re told here that there is no reason to fear because God Rescues The Perishing! This was a consolation for the Sum of Humanity.

Zacharias’ fear was addressed by the fact that there would be a son named John in God’s plan.

Mary’s fear was addressed by the fact that there would be a savior named Jesus in God’s plan.

The fear of Mary’s espoused husband was addressed by the fact that God’s plan would include him, a spouse named Joseph.

The shepherds’ fear was alleviated by the fact that there would be something called joy in God’s plan.

We are told of the shepherds’ fear in…

(Luke 2:9-10) And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. {10} And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

sore – Greek 3173. megas, meg'-as [includ. the prol. forms, fem. megale, plur. megaloi, etc.; comp. also G3176, G3187]; big (lit. or fig., in a very wide application):--(+ fear) exceedingly, great (-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.

afraid – Greek 5399. phobeo, fob-eh'-o; from G5401; to frighten, i.e. (pass.) to be alarmed; by anal. to be in awe of, i.e. revere:--be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

We shouldn’t be surprised that they were afraid. For the Bible says that “the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.”

came – Greek 2186. ephistemi, ef-is'-tay-mee; from G1909 and G2476; to stand upon, i.e. be present (in various applications, friendly or otherwise, usually lit.):--assault, come (in, to, unto, upon), be at hand (instant), present, stand (before, by, over).

glory – Greek 1391. doxa, dox'-ah; from the base of G1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (lit. or fig., obj. or subj.):--dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.

shone – Greek 4034. perilampo, per-ee-lam'-po; from G4012 and G2989; to illuminate all around, i.e. invest with a halo:--shine round about.

But the angel said “Fear not.” Why? What was the reason that they should not be alarmed? because the angel had not come with a message of destruction or bad news. He had come with “good tidings of great joy.”

As we study the shepherds’ encounter with the angels in Luke 2, I want us to look at this account under three different headings. And these are thoughts that I have shared with you before (in a message from our 2006 Christmas series).

1. We Find The Recipients Of The Angelic Announcement (in verse 8)

2. We Find The Report Of The Angelic Announcement (in verses 10-14)

3. We Find The Result Of The Angelic Announcement (in verses 15-20)

I. We Find The Recipients Of The Angelic Announcement

(Luke 2:8)

A. Let’s Think About The Special Location Of Those Who Heard

(Luke 2:8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

1. Notice The Proximity Associated With Their Location

This powerful proclamation of verse 10 was not brought to the palace, but to the pasture. But though these men were in a simple environment, it was also a special environment because of the proximity associated with it. For those who received this message were “in the same country,” that is, the same country or the same area that has just been mentioned in which Jesus had just been born. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says that the word “country” (NT:5561 – choora) means…

Properly, the space lying between two places or limits.

In all likelihood, the flock was somewhere in the six mile span between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, probably closer to Bethlehem. The mention of them being “in the same country” is truly special, because God came near. John said “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Son did not come to keep His distance from humankind, but “they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). And even though bodily He is now ascended back to the Father, Paul said that He is “not far from every one of us” (Acts 17:27).

2. Notice The Prophecy Associated With Their Location

We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This is revealed in an anticipated way in the Old Testament (Micah 5:2), and it is revealed in an actual way in the New Testament.

(Micah 5:2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

We also know from Luke 2:7 that He was not born in the inn at Bethlehem. So where specifically was He born. The New Testament doesn’t tell us, but the Old Testament does. The Bible says in Micah 4:8…

(Micah 4:8) And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

The phrase “tower of the flock” is the Hebrew phrase “Migdal Edar.” It is a phrase that is first used in Genesis 35 when Jacob, after burying Rachel at Bethlehem, “journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar” (Genesis 35:21), or the tower of the flock. In ancient times, this tower, which was situated on the outskirts of Bethlehem, was used as a military watchtower, or as Micah said, “a strong hold,” in the protection of the area. And it was close to this tower that shepherds kept a particular flock of sheep year round. Micah indicated that the ruler and the king would come to the tower of the flock; therefore Jesus’ birth must have taken place at this tower, close to those shepherds and their flock. Their location was special because of the prophecy associated with it.

B. Let’s Think About The Special Labor Of Those Who Heard

(Luke 2:8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

1. Notice The Task Involved In Their Labor

Most people would not have viewed the occupation of a shepherd as particularly special. In fact, the Bible says in Genesis 46:34 that “every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians,” and it probably wasn’t that much different in the perspective even of Jewish people. As Craig S. Keener wrote…

This narrative would have challenged the values of many religious people, who despised shepherds; shepherds’ work kept them from participation in the religious activities of their communities.

(From the IVP Bible Background Commentary)

Similarly, Marvin Vincent in his Word Studies in the New Testament said…

This revelation to the shepherds acquires additional meaning as we remember that shepherds, as a class, were under the Rabbinic ban, because of their necessary isolation from religious ordinances, and their manner of life, which rendered strict legal observance well nigh impossible.

Guy King called the recipients of this message “simple people,” but their duty was perhaps more involved than we have always assumed.

As Alfred Edersheim wrote, “Jewish tradition may here prove both illustrative and helpful.” He goes on to say that the Jews believed Messiah would be revealed outside Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, “the tower of the flock.” And he writes, “A passage in the Mishnah (a major source of rabbinic Judaism’s religious texts) leads to the conclusion that the flocks, which pastured there, were destined for Temple-sacrifices, and, accordingly, that the shepherds who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds.” The task involved in the labor of these shepherds was a special task. You see, it was their job to make sure that these sheep would be acceptable as temple sacrifices; that they would be without blemish and without spot. And this is the reason that the announcement was made to these shepherds. These temple shepherds were called upon to go “even unto Bethlehem” and see the Temple sacrifice, “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).

2. Notice The Tower Involved In Their Labor

For another moment, I want us to consider the tower involved in the labor of these shepherds. There has been some debate about whether the birth of Christ actually took place in the winter, because if it were winter, the shepherds would not have had the sheep in the field. However, as Edersheim states, this location outside Bethlehem was “where shepherds watched the temple-flocks all the year round.” And this tower, Migdal Edar, was the place where the ewes were brought to give birth to the lambs.

In this sheltered area under the watchtower, the priests would bring in the ewes that were about to give birth for their protection. These special lambs, which came from this unique flock, were destined for sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem. Jimmy DeYoung indicated that in order to ensure that these special lambs were not hurt or damaged in any way, that the temple shepherds would swaddle them or wrap them in broad bands of cloth to protect them from injury.

There is no doubt in my mind that when Mary and Joseph found no room in the inn at Bethlehem, they made their way to the outskirts of town, where they found privacy and refuge underneath the tower of the flock. And in this place where so many sacrificial lambs had been born and swaddled, Mary “brought forth her firstborn son (the Lamb of God), and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes” (Luke 2:7).

II. We Find The Report Of The Angelic Announcement

(Luke 2:10–14)

A. There Was The Joyous Message Of The Heavenly Herald

(Luke 2:10-12) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. {11} For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. {12} And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Edersheim wrote these poignant words…

Heaven and earth seemed to mingle, as suddenly an Angel stood before their dazzled eyes, while the outstreaming glory of the Lord seemed to enwrap them, as in a mantle of light.

This angel said that he had brought “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.”

Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament said…

‎Wycliffe is strictly literal (in the translation): “I evangelize to you a great joy.”

Notice the meanings of some of the words used…

good tidings – Greek 2097. euaggelizo, yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo; from G2095 (eu – good) and G32 (aggelos – to bring tidings, particularly from a messenger such as an angel or pastor); meaning to announce good news (“evangelize”) especially the gospel. It also translated in the New Testament as “declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).”

great – Greek 3173. megas, meg'-as [includ. the prol. forms, fem. megale, plur. megaloi, etc.; comp. also G3176, G3187]; big (lit. or fig., in a very wide application):--(+ fear) exceedingly, great (-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.

joy – Greek 5479. chara, khar-ah'; from G5463; cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:--gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).

1. This Angel Mentioned The Savior Of Humanity

(Luke 2:11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The angel didn’t tell the shepherds that a baby was born to Mary, but unto you. And then as J.G. Bellett observed, the angel didn’t say “a judge nor a lawgiver” but a Saviour.

Saviour – Greek 4990. soter, so-tare'; from G4982; a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ.

Adam Clarke wrote…

A Saviour, sooteer; … from soozein, to make safe, to deliver, preserve, to make alive, thus used by the Septuagint … to cause to escape; … to confide in, to hope. … Mintert adds under sooteer: “The word properly denotes such a Saviour as perfectly frees us from all evil and danger, and is the author of perpetual salvation.”

The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary said…

Every word here contains transporting intelligence from heaven. For whom provided? “To you” - shepherds, Israel, mankind. Who is provided? “A SAVIOUR.” What is He? “CHRIST THE LORD.” How introduced into the world? He “is born” - as said the prophet, “Unto us a child is born” (Isaiah 9:6); “the Word was made flesh” (John 1:14). When? “This Day.” Where? “In the city of David.” In the predicted line, and at the predicted spot, where prophecy bade us look for Him and faith accordingly expected Him.

2. This Angel Mentioned The Sign Of Humility

(Luke 2:12) And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

sign – Greek 4592. semeion, say-mi'-on; neut. of a presumed der. of the base of G4591; an indication, espec. cer. or supernat.:--miracle, sign, token, wonder.

Albert Barnes said…

[This shall be a sign] The evidence by which you shall know the child is that you will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Again, Adam Clarke said…

You shall find this glorious person, however strange it may appear, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable! It is by humility that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into his kingdom! Pride is the character of all the children of Adam: humility the mark of the Son of God, and of all his followers. Christ came in the way of humility to destroy that pride which is the root of evil in the souls of men.

The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says…

The sign, it seems, was to consist solely in the over-powering contrast between the lofty things just said of Him and the lowly condition in which they would find Him. ‘Him whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, ye shall find a Babe: Whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain ye shall find “wrapped in swaddling bands and lying in a manger!”’

From splendid robe to swaddling rags; from glorious throne to grazing trough! Indeed, as Edersheim wrote, “Heaven and earth seemed to mingle”!

B. There Was The Jubilant Message Of The Heavenly Host

(Luke 2:13-14) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, {14} Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

1. Notice The Eager Assembly

suddenly – Greek 1810. exaiphnes, ex-ah'eef-nace; from G1537 and the base of G160; of a sudden (unexpectedly):--suddenly.

Again, the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says…

And suddenly – as if eager to break in as soon as the last words of the wonderful tidings had dropped from their fellow’s lips,

There was with the angel – not in place of him; because he does not retire, and is only joined by others, come to seal and to celebrate the tidings which he was honoured first to announce,

A multitude of heavenly host – or, ‘army;’ ‘An army,’ as Bengel quaintly remarks, ‘celebrating peace!’ come down to let it be known here how this great event is regarded in heaven: “praising God and saying,”

Edersheim said…

What they sang was but the reflex of what had been announced. It told in the language of praise the character, the meaning, the result, of what had taken place.

The use of the word “suddenly” indicates that their appearance was unexpected from the shepherds’ perspective. But perhaps it also indicates the enthusiasm and readiness of this multitude to appear with their saying. Speaking of which, let’s…

2. Notice The Excellent Acclamation

(Luke 2:14) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Glory – Greek 1391. doxa, dox'-ah; from the base of G1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (lit. or fig., obj. or subj.):--dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.

Albert Barnes said…

[In the highest] This is capable of several meanings:

In the highest “strains,” or in the highest possible manner.

“Among” the highest that is, among the angels of God; indicating that “they” felt a deep interest in this work, and were called on to praise God for the redemption of man.

In the highest heavens – indicating that the praise of redemption should not be confined to the “earth,” but should spread throughout the universe.

The words “God in the highest” may be equivalent to “the Most High God,” and be the same as saying, “Let the most high God be praised for his love and mercy to people.”

Which of these meanings is the true one it is difficult to determine; but in this they all agree, that high praise is to be given to God for his love in redeeming people.

peace – Greek 1515. eirene, from a primary verb eiro (meaning to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication it means prosperity. It also translated in the New Testament as “one, peace, quietness, rest, set at one again.” (To mend like a broken bone.)

Adam Clarke said…

Men are in a state of hostility with Heaven and with each other. The carnal mind is enmity against God. He who sins, wars against his Maker.

Frederic Godet said…

This peace (mentioned in verse 14) is such as results from the reconciliation of man with God; it contains the cause of the cessation of all war here below. … The verb understood is … “let it be.” (From The Biblical Illustrator)

And then there is the mention of “good will toward men.”

good will – 2107. eudokia, meaning satisfaction, delight, or kindness, wish, purpose. It also translated in the New Testament as “desire, good pleasure (will), seem good.”

Godet said of this “good will toward men”…

‎The sense is: “for God takes pleasure in men.”

C. S. Robinson wrote…

“Goodwill toward men” … ends this song of the angel; that is what ought to be the beginning of each Christmas anthem and carol. God loves us; oh, how touchingly does the aged Paul in one place tell his young brother Titus about that “kindness and love of God our Saviour toward men!” (Titus 3:4). God cherishes only goodwill toward any of us. Even the wicked; He takes no pleasure in their death. He would rather they would turn unto Him, and live. Oh, happy day is that in which He tells us all this unmistakably, with perfect plainness.

(From The Biblical Illustrator)

God’s plan is producing glory and praise in the heavenlies, and it would produce peace in the earthly realm. There is glory and praise in the heavenly sphere; there is grace and peace in the human sphere! What a message!

III. We Find The Result Of The Angelic Announcement

(Luke 2:15–20)

A. These Shepherds Made A Decision

(Luke 2:15-16) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. {16} And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

1. Look At The Harmony Of Their Decision

one to another – Greek 240. allelon, al-lay'-lone; Gen. plur. from G243 redupl.; one another:--each other, mutual, one another, (the other), (them-, your-) selves, (selves) together.

came – Greek 2064. erchomai, er'-khom-ahee; mid. of a prin. verb (used only in the pres. and imperf. tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [mid.] eleuthomai, el-yoo'-thom-ahee; or [act.] eltho, el'-tho; which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, lit. and fig.):--accompany, appear, bring, come enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.

Matthew Henry said…

Observe, These shepherds do not speak doubtfully, “Let us go see whether it be so or no;” but with assurance, Let us go see this thing which is come to pass; for what room was left to doubt of it, when the Lord had thus made it known to them? The word spoken by angels was stedfast and unquestionably true.

A. T. Robertson said…

Said to one another ‎elaloun ‎‎pros ‎‎alleelous‎. Imperfect tense, inchoative, “began to speak,” each to the other. It suggests also repetition, they kept saying, “Now” ‎dee‎. A particle of urgency.

There was a unity of spirit and of purpose. They were all saying the same thing. They were in one mind and one accord about their decision and their direction. And they accompanied each other to the place.

2. Look At The Haste Of Their Decision

now – Greek 1211. de, day; prob. akin to G1161; a particle of emphasis or explicitness; now, then, etc.:--also, and, doubtless, now, therefore.

haste – Greek 4692. speudo, spyoo’-do; prob. strengthened from G4228; to “speed” (“study”), i.e. urge on (diligently or earnestly); by impl. to await eagerly:--(make, with) haste unto.

There was no hesitation to go to Jesus, but there was haste. As Warren Wiersbe wrote…

Halford Luccock called this “the first Christmas rush.”

Note:

Edersheim wrote…

It seems difficult to understand how … the shepherds could have found the Infant-Saviour, since, manifestly, they could not during that night have roused every household in Bethlehem, to inquire whether any child had been born among their guests.

How did they know where to look? How did they “find” the babe? Warren Wiersbe said…

The verb found in Luke 2:16 means “found after a search.”

Craig S. Keener suggested that…

The shepherds probably checked the animal stables till they found the one with the baby; Bethlehem was not a large town. (From the IVP Bible Background Commentary)

However, the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary notes that they were…

‘Mysteriously guided,’ says Olshausen, ‘to the right place through the obscurity of the night.’

Let me remind us that they had, in fact, been given a sign (vs. 12); a sign that I think directed them to where they needed to go. The angel said, “This shall be a sign unto you.” Where could they find a manger, and where would they find swaddling cloth? The sign pointed to Migdal Edar.

B. These Shepherds Made A Difference

(Luke 2:17-18) And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. {18} And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

(Luke 2:20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

1. Their Words Made A Difference In The Hearers

As Marvin Vincent concluded…

These shepherds, having charge of flocks devoted to sacrifice, would presently be in the temple, and would meet those who came to worship and to sacrifice, and so proclaim the Messiah in the temple.

(Vincent’s New Testament Word Studies)

2. Their Worship Made A Difference In Their Own Hearts

(Luke 2:20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

glorifying – Greek 1392. doxazo, dox-ad'-zo; from G1391; to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application):--(make) glorify (-ious), full of (have) glory, honour, magnify.

praising – Greek 134. aineo, ahee-neh'-o; from G136 (commending and lauding the story); to praise (God):--praise.

To glorify is to make that which you are glorifying big to someone else. To make a big deal out of it. People in churches are making a big deal out of the wrong things. We need to be making a big deal about God and praising Him.

Conclusion

There is more to this scene than might have met the eye of the passerby at the manger.

In his Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, Paul Lee Tan shared the following story…

Old Mr. and Mrs. Cooper invited the writer (Paul Lee Tan) to their home for Christmas dinner at Winona Lake, Indiana. Underneath their Christmas tree, and prominently displayed, was a red cardboard with some clippings of the three wise men and “Merry Christmas” pasted on it. I was told that the worn cardboard was 45 years old and had been placed under the tree every Christmas. The Cooper’s only son had made that Christmas card in school for his Daddy. And on his way home, some bad boys were going to tear it up. Although not used to fighting, he took off his coat and fought them off for this gift to his Dad. The Coopers never knew until a neighbor who saw it told them. And so, in deep appreciation as only parents can know, that worn-out card (with scotch tape on various places) had been set in front of all other presents for nearly half-a-century underneath their Christmas tree. It had become more than just a card because of the sacrifice involved.

(Tan # 10631)

Christmas is more than just a baby laying on some hay. It is the Messiah’s entrance into our world. It is the account of God made flesh and bringing peace through the blood of His cross. It is THE way in a manger, for Jesus said…

(John 14:6) … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Matthew Henry wrote…

When we saw him wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, we were tempted to say, “Surely this cannot be the Son of God.” … But see his birth attended, as it is here, with a choir of angels, and we shall say, “Surely it can be no other than the Son of God, concerning whom it was said, when he was brought into the world, Let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6).