The Shepherds Fear Relieved
December 14, 2025 / No. 4328M
Dear Radio Friends,
Well known to many of us, especially in this time of year, is the true story of Jesus birth. The inspired Word of God in Luke 2:6-11 records for us what happened after Joseph and Mary traveled to the city of Bethlehem, as Caesar Augustus required.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. And the angel said unto them, 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Dear radio listener, I pray that today’s message from God’s Word, arrests your attention and causes you to think seriously again, or for the first time if necessary, about the reality of the one true God of holy wrath and tender love.
We are such a distracted people. Life is busy, especially in this time of year that many call Christmas. There is the hustle and bustle of shopping, food preparation, parties. There are lights and pictures which attract our eyes, carols and noise (so much noise) in our ears. We’re so busy, busy, busy, with a few important things, more frivolous things, and our phones don’t help.
But I think we like the busyness and the distractions. We like to keep our minds stimulated by the artificial excitement and happiness all around us. Because it distracts us from our “fears.” Most won’t admit it, but there is real fear inside the heart. Some point to technology and phones as the cause of anxiety and fear, and there is some truth to that. They certainly don’t help. But within the natural human heart, there is already fear. And we’re finding out that distracting ourselves with more busyness doesn’t get rid of that fear. And over time, there is only an aggravation of that fear. Today I seek to diagnose that fear within, and tell you about that one Savior named Jesus, whose grace the songwriter John Newton described this way: “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.”
The citizens of Bethlehem about 2000 years ago were also busy and distracted. Many people packed into that little town, the city of David, as Caesar Augustus, the Roman Emperor, required to register with the government and pay what the king demanded in taxes. In the midst of all the busyness, there was no room for Him who was greater than Caesar. Thus the Son of God, who assumed our human flesh, was born in a cattle stall filled with sweaty and dirty animals that night.
Not only were the people in town busy and distracted, so were the shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Luke 2:8: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” They went about their work busy with the care of sheep, oblivious to the Holy God come in the flesh.
These shepherds are unnamed. They were nobodies, considered members of the lower class. Many of us feel the same way (modern psychology tells us to be proud about ourselves, but deep down we know the truth. We’re just not that important.) Such were these shepherds, common laborers, yet prime candidates, from God’s point of view, for the gospel of His grace.
In addition to being unimportant, these shepherds were rugged or tough. Some speculate that these were boys or young men, and that’s possible. But that’s not really in the text. More probable that they were tough men. They had to survive outdoors under the elements, enduring extreme heat and cold. When verse 8 says that they were “keeping watch over their flock,” that means they were like soldiers, guarding their sheep. In the darkness of night they had to watch their sheep, defending them from bears, lions, and wolves. They were used to this. Lowly, but rugged men, accustomed to danger.
But suddenly, to these night sentinels, there appeared a lone angel, and we read “they were sore afraid.” Verse 9: “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.” Literally, “They were afraid with a mega-phobia.”
We need to understand that fear, dear listener. Don’t get distracted. This helps us diagnose our fears and anxieties. There was only one angel, and there were many shepherds accustomed to guarding their sheep from danger. Why would they be so scared?
For one, angels, you must understand, are not as artists depict them to be. Angels are not slender, feminine fairies. Far less are they cute babies with wings. Erase from your mind anything foolish or nice about angels. Angels are soldiers. Later on in Luke 2:13, we find that more angels show up, and they are called “the heavenly host.” The word “host” means “army.” Angels are soldiers of God’s army. When they show themselves, they look like winged warriors. And the word “angel” means “messenger.” They come from God’s throne room, from the very presence of God Himself, so that when they appear, they not only speak what God wants the people on earth to hear, they reflect like a mirror God’s glory. “Glory” is the radiant brightness of all God’s characteristics, especially His holiness. “Consuming fire.” Verse 9 says that when a single angel showed up “the glory of the Lord shone round about them.” Psalm 104:4: “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.” Why were the shepherds afraid? The holy brightness of God made the once dark night brighter than noon. That is what struck fear in the shepherds, as many and as tough as they were.
Consider this great fear, dear listener. This fear of the burning brightness of God’s glory reflected by the angel. Do not distract yourself from it. This fear of the shepherds reveals to us the root cause of all our fears. Unholy shepherds stood before the holiness of God, and this is what the shepherds instinctively felt: “I am done for! No man can see God and live! Before the holy brightness of God a sinner like me is destroyed. He’s going to burn me up, and, and, and, that’s the judgment I deserve.” Why do grown men of the toughest sort tremble? Why do we get afraid at night? Why do we feel that trembling inside when we hear about the reality of death? Because every single human being (as much as they try to distract their minds) knows deep down: God is real. His holiness is hot. And I’m a sinner who should be burned. “The wages of sin is death.”
But here is the good news. Listen to what the angel said to those shepherds who instinctively knew that they deserved to be consumed: verse 10, “And the angel said unto them: Fear not.” Fear not?!! Why not? The angels answer “for” indicates a logical explanation for why sinners do not need to fear. “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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Literally, “I gospel preach.” I come not to bring judgment as you deserve, the angel says, but to bring good news of salvation from that judgment! What will calm your fears today is not distractions, lights, sports, gifts, or even sentimental stories of cute babies in nativity scenes. What will calm your fear is not self-esteem, the message of a false gospel—“you’re actually a good person.” You know deep down that that is not true.
The only thing that will calm your fear is Christ Jesus. He has been born, Savior! Savior from what? From your sin and the holy judgment which you deserve! The angel told Joseph: “Thou shalt call His name Jesus—for He shall save His people from their sin.” This is why He came, you see, as a baby, to Bethlehem, where there was no room. To a dirty cattle stall, with no halo over His head. What was going on when He came was suffering. He was already suffering as a child the holy judgment that we His people deserve for our sins. He would suffer all His life, and that suffering would only crescendo, increase, until on that awful cross. He, the Son of God, was cursed in the place of His people. The heat of God’s holiness burned against Him instead of us until He had finished (as He said) enduring all the punishment for our sin.
Believe in this Savior, dear listener. This Jesus, Son of God, come as a babe, to suffer our just punishment. He did not come to make life easy. He did not come to deliver earthly presents like St. Nick. He did not come to give good boys and girls health, wealth. False gospel. He came to take upon Himself the holy wrath of God that sinners deserve. Believe in this Jesus. Those who do may hear His Word from above, “Fear not.” Nothing to fear. The Savior has taken all of it. Forgiven! God’s face shines in love toward you. All hardship and trial in life, though real, is not God’s punishment as you feared before. But is God’s wise and good pathway for you unto heavenly glory rather than hellish agony. Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy!
“Which shall be to all people.” “All” does not mean every single person head for head, but all kinds. To lowly, unimportant people, like these shepherds too. The message is for all kinds of sinners. ’Tis the season of such busyness when many distract themselves from fears. I call you to stop, face your fears, recognize the root cause—fear of God’s holy wrath. Repent, put your trust in Jesus, the Savior, the Son of God come in our human flesh to take the punishment we deserve. This is the only way that your heart will be freed from fear.
Dear listener, do not try to distract yourself from your fears any longer. Deal with them. Recognize that all your fears can be traced back to the fear of fears: God’s holy judgment for your sin. Turn to Jesus, the only Savior. Trust in Him. All who believe in Him are saved from sin, judgment, and fear. “Peace,” He says, to you on earth.
One day this Jesus returns, you know. And He is no longer a baby, but the glorious Lord who is risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. When He returns, the glory of the Lord will again shine round about. Then those who choose to live in darkness without Christ, no matter how well you distract yourself from fear today, will be sore afraid before His holy glory. But to you who believe, even if you are an unimportant laborer: Fear not, for I bring you good tidings of great joy. His first coming was to suffer your judgment, and His second coming is to make you more glorious than the angels and to dwell with Him in glory forever.