Today’s 333 Devotional: “At Jesus’s Birth Fears Fade”

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.’” (Luke 2:10a)

There are many reasons why the angel told the shepherds not to be afraid. First, it’s only natural for someone to be a little terrified when seeing such a heavenly personage, and the glory of heaven shining around him.

Back then, shepherds were considered third class citizens and religious outcasts, in that their line of work prevented them from participating in the feasts and holy days.

From a religious point of view because by Jewish law they were considered to be unclean. So, no matter what may have been in their hearts, they weren’t able to participate fully in the religious life of the community.

But why tell them not to fear? Shepherds would have had many fears. There were the wild animals that set their sights on the sheep or them, and they feared bandits for the same reason. And they would have also feared the Roman soldiers who harassed them, and they no one to speak on their behalf.

Now we can see why they would have been excited to hear the angels say not to be afraid?

But also, like everyone, they would have had the fear of death. But unto them had been born that day the Savior, the Great Shepherd Himself, which we celebrate as Christmas. And He specializes in vanquishing fear from the human heart. He conquered the fear of death by conquering the grave when He rose the third day after being crucified.

But we don’t need to fear because of these good tidings of great joy, that Jesus, who is both our Savior and the Lord God, the Great Shepherd, was born, lived a perfect sinless life, and then died upon the cross for our sins and rose the third day conquering both sin and death.

And when this if fully understood, believed, and becomes a reality in our lives, then our fears will fade as well.