Christmas-Luke 2:8-20 - Emotions of Christmas: Fear & Joy

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I'm going to finish reading the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke that we started

at the beginning of the service this morning.

I am aware that we had a sermon on this passage just a couple of months ago when we celebrated

Christmas in September, but I've just loved more and more as I've studied this, what God

is doing, particularly with the shepherds in this story.

Our text for this morning is verses 8 through 20 of Luke 2.

It's really their story, how Christmas and how God brings a Savior to them and it impacts

their hearts and their lives.

It's a great window into what Christmas means for people like us.

So notice the shepherds particularly as I read and notice how in this one day they move from

fear to joy.

Quickly, but very clearly from fear to joy.

Luke 2 at verse 8.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at

night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they

were terrified.

But the angel said to them, do not be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you.

He is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you.

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying,

glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.

And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,

which were just as they had been told.

Let's pray together.

Father, we thank you again for this familiar story.

We've heard it now many times probably just this Christmas season.

Would you write its truth on our hearts?

Would we know not merely that it really happened,

although that's a great, great joy.

But would we know what that means for us and for our lives.

Father, speak to us this morning, we ask in Jesus' name.

Amen.

We've been talking through the Christmas season about the impact of Christmas on our hearts.

How the incarnation of the Son of God Himself impacts our longing and hope.

Our grief and comfort.

Our apathy and awe.

Last night we talked about turmoil and peace in our hearts.

This morning I want to see briefly, almost as briefly as last night, kids.

Close to a homily.

I want us to see how it transforms our fear.

Now, fear is a pretty broad term, right?

There are lots of things that you can be afraid of.

See if you can think of something that you're afraid of.

When I was growing up, and yeah, still today it's snakes.

I'm so scared of snakes.

Anybody else afraid of snakes?

Tell me I'm not the only person.

Okay, good.

But that's not the kind of fear that I'm talking about this morning.

There are a lot of phobias out there.

A lot of people had a frightful night last night because they struggle with claustrophobia and heard that he was coming.

All right.

All right.

Yeah, wow is right.

It fit into the fear sermon, you know?

My family is leaving right now.

Terrible.

I am definitely not talking about that kind of fear this morning.

The kind of fear I want us to see Christmas address in our hearts is this persistent underlying fear,

this feeling that we have of discomfort in relating to God,

and having a close relationship with Him.

I'll say it this way for our purposes this morning,

that the fear I'm talking about is living with a deep sense that God is distant, dangerous, or dissatisfied.

Remember, I'm talking about a feeling that you have,

not necessarily something you believe intellectually.

You may not believe any of those things about God,

but this is how we relate to Him.

What are the things in our hearts that drive us to relate to God in these ways?

A lot of fear.

Fear is where we find the shepherds in this Christmas story, right?

The angel appears to them, verse 9, and they are terrified.

Some versions say filled with great fear.

Or my favorite one, they were sore afraid, right?

They encounter this heavenly messenger, this representative of God,

and fear is their immediate reaction.

Now, of course, there are very good reasons for that.

I mean, put yourself in their shoes, right?

Here they are, not expecting anything,

and all of a sudden, someone shows up like nothing they have ever seen before.

They didn't know what to expect from or how to relate to an angel.

But I think there's another reason behind their fear,

that shepherds also knew well to be afraid of a divine representative

because shepherds well understood in their culture they were religious outsiders.

They were unclean, unreliable, unavailable for religious matters.

Because of their crazy work schedules and the fact that they were often ceremonially unclean

from touching dead things or from the animals they were around,

they were usually absent from all things churchy, from religious stuff.

They were despised in the community, thought of as thieves and so mistrusted by others

they didn't even qualify as legal witnesses.

Of course they were afraid about what God thought about them, right?

What He might do to them when they encounter Him.

How do you relate to God?

Let's be clear as we start to talk about fear.

There's an appropriate fear of God, isn't there?

The Bible talks about living with the fear of God,

having a reverence and an awe before Him,

before His holiness and His glory bowing before Him and living that way.

It's like Isaiah, when we get a glimpse of God,

we should be reminded of our unworthiness

and that His purity should rightly make us just disintegrate into ashes before Him.

He's that holy and we're that unworthy.

But we also have an inappropriate fear of God in our hearts

that causes us to have unhealthy ways of relating to God.

For some of us, we have like the shepherds,

what I'll call the fear of the unknown.

We keep our distance from God as though He's some distant relative

that we never know what to expect from and we don't really trust.

Having a relationship with God is,

we don't even know what that would be like or feel like.

We've heard some things about Him, but we don't really know Him.

It's why we keep our distance from reading the Bible or praying much.

It seems too close to God.

Exposing my heart to Him just doesn't feel normal or right.

Maybe you can relate to that in your relationship with God.

For others of us, we live with this underlying feeling

that God is a cosmic hall monitor.

That He's always on the lookout for us to slip up.

To fail Him in some small way that He can get us back for

and balance the scales all the time

because that's what He's always doing.

I was volunteering in my daughter's first grade class a few weeks ago

and the teacher left the room for a few minutes

and she left one student in charge of the classroom.

He was in charge of watching all the other students

to make sure no one talked or got out of line

and he stood at the front with a dry erase marker

to write the name of any kid who spoke on the board.

I gotta tell you, I hadn't had that feeling since I was in school.

I was genuinely afraid He was gonna write my name on the board

and she was gonna come back in and think,

well, what did Mr. Spink do while I was gone?

That fear that there's someone watching,

that God sees everything and He's gonna catch you

when you mess up.

That He's gonna get you back.

Sometimes we live as though God is dangerous.

That He's out to get us.

He's really gonna make us feel it if we mess up.

And so we're just tightly wound all the time.

We're playing it safe.

In sports terms, you would call it playing not to lose.

I mean, you've got the lead, right?

You're supposed to be going to heaven.

Just play it safe and don't blow it.

As long as you don't mess it up enough,

you'll make it through and you'll get into heaven in the end.

Play it safe or else.

The final way this shows up in my life

is when serving God begins to feel like a drag.

One more sermon to write this week.

Another conference to attend, really?

Saturday?

I bet they're gonna want me to come back for church

on Christmas Day.

Golly.

Small group?

I did that years ago.

Jobs for life?

Nice idea, but who really has time for that kind of stuff?

I'm exhausted.

I'm worn out.

This unhealthy way of relating to God

is very prevalent among the most committed church members.

And it's hard to see in our lives

because we're doing so many godly things

that it seems like we've got a wonderful relationship with God,

but inside is this gnawing fear

that perhaps we're not doing quite enough.

We haven't done enough to wow God,

to impress Him.

It's like He's an Olympic judge

and He hasn't seen quite enough fantastic stuff

to give us that ten we want.

I mean, we're pretty good,

but we haven't impressed Him yet.

And the result of that is that serving God becomes drudgery

and leads to exhaustion.

I've always got to do more.

Could you see the shepherds feeling some of that kind of fear?

Based on their likely lack of religious awards

and recognition they had received?

An unhealthy fear of God

that leaves me cold and distant from Him.

Often tired.

Rarely joyful.

Does that describe you sometimes?

We all can slip into those feelings.

Even if it's not what we say we believe about God,

that He's distant or dangerous or dissatisfied.

We felt the drudgery,

the lack of joy,

the distance from God lately.

Often that comes from fear.

An aspect of fear in our hearts.

Well, the angel speaks into that terrified bunch of shepherds

the first Christmas

and he says to these very fearful shepherds,

fear not.

Verse 10, right?

The angel said to them,

Do not be afraid.

I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David,

a Savior has been born to you.

He is Christ the Lord.

Fearful people,

fear not.

Something is happening

that must transform your fear.

That makes something different.

Jesus comes to change the way we relate to God.

That these unhealthy, fear-driven approaches

would be replaced with joyful relationship.

Good news of great joy.

See, joy is, as we said with the kids,

not something you can open in a present, right?

Even an empty one, apparently.

It's not happiness.

It's not merely warm feelings

and positive vibes from life's circumstances.

No, joy, biblically, is a deep sense

that God is near,

safe,

and satisfied.

See, joy is relational.

Just like fear.

Having a deep sense of joy

comes from relating differently

to your Creator.

It's a relationship thing.

The message of Christmas,

the announcement of the angels

to the shepherds,

is that there's a change

in their relationship with God.

The angel says it this way.

Look at verse 11 again.

Today in the town of David,

a Savior has been born to you.

Christ the Lord.

God has come to be born

to be your Savior.

Notice what that means

for our relationship with God.

What God has done

to change our relationship with Him.

He's not distant.

He has come near.

This is Emmanuel,

God with us,

who insists on nothing

keeping Him from us.

He wants you to know Him,

to draw close to Him,

to share your heart with Him.

A Savior has been born to you.

God has become man.

He's come near.

Secondly, He's not dangerous,

out to harm you.

He's safe.

He comes to rescue you

and do you good.

I know some of my fellow C.S. Lewis fans

will be bothered

by God being called safe.

He's not safe.

He's good.

He's not a tame lion.

Listen,

what I mean by safe

is that He's safe to trust.

That He loves you

and has your best interest at heart.

John writes in John 3, 17

that God sent His only begotten Son

into the world

not to condemn the world,

not to catch you doing something wrong

so He can get you,

so that He can get back at you

and even things out.

But why?

He sent His Son in the world

to save the world,

to rescue you

in your mess.

He wasn't trying to catch you making it.

He wanted to rescue you

in the midst of it.

That's grace.

That's God's heart toward you.

Finally,

in Jesus,

God

is satisfied.

The need to perform

your way

into His good graces

is over.

Jesus has done it

and He now

dignifies you

with the abundant life

full and free,

finally living the way

God designed you

to live in the first place

without the fear

of His disappointment.

free,

full of joy

knowing your Father

is smiling on you

regardless of your performance

because of Jesus.

Do you hear why

the writers of Scripture

say our salvation

produces

an inexpressible

and glorious joy?

That's the result

of what God does

in fixing our relationship

with Him.

He gives us

an entirely new relationship

from the one

we naturally have.

free and full

relationship with God

of new approach

to all of life.

There's no more

distant relative.

No more cosmic

hall monitor.

No more frowning

Olympic judge.

We have a loving

heavenly Father.

This is why grace

produces joyful obedience

rather than drudgery

in relationship with God.

No more fear

of God's critical eye

having to be appeased

by a perfect performance.

Instead,

delighting in the

light burden

that is ours.

Following a Savior

who has come

and performed

perfectly in our place

brought us into

an entirely new

relationship

with God.

That's what a Savior

means.

What it would have meant

to the shepherds.

Look at the change

they experience

when they see

the Savior.

Verse 17.

When they'd seen Him

they spread the word

concerning what had

been told them

about this child

and all who heard it

were amazed

at what the shepherds

said to them.

Verse 20.

The shepherds returned

glorifying and

praising God

for all the things

they'd heard and seen

which were just

as they had been told.

How did they go

from fearful

outcasts

to those who are

praising and

rejoicing in God

and telling everybody

about Him

and talking with people

about this God.

What changed

the shepherds?

It was that they heard

and saw

a Savior.

It's that simple.

That's all that happens

in between.

They hear there's a Savior

they go see the Savior

and they're changed.

They let go of their fear.

They don't cower

before God anymore.

Now they praise Him

and rejoice

in Him.

This change

is portrayed

subtly

but beautifully

in a TV special

you may have seen

recently

called

Charlie Brown's

Christmas.

If you're not

a Peanuts aficionado

Linus

is a character.

Linus

is known

for always

having his blanket

with him.

He's somewhat

of a fearful

character

in the comic.

he's not able

to go anywhere

without that

security blanket.

Recently social media

has noticed

something about

Linus

and his blanket

on this special.

I want to show you

a short clip.

Watch the blue blanket

carefully.

Isn't there anyone

who knows

what Christmas

is all about?

Sure Charlie Brown

I can tell you

what Christmas

is all about.

Lights please.

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

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

and suddenly

there was with the angel

a multitude

of the heavenly host

praising God

and saying

glory to God

in the highest

and on earth

peace

good will toward men

that's what Christmas

is all about

Charlie Brown

that's what Christmas

is all about

I know you know

what Christmas

is all about

did you notice

the blanket

did you notice

when he says

do not fear

what he's able

to let go of

what the angels

have announced

what the shepherds

witnessed

is something

that allows us

to let go

of our fears

you may know that

but have you actually

dropped

your blanket

have you let go

of other things

that you'd find

security in

in order to cling

to Jesus

has the truth

the angels announced

enabled you

to let go

of fearful

ways of

relating to God

and experience

the deep joy

of being

his beloved

child

what does it mean

to you

to have a savior

that's the question

I want you to

consider

as we close

this morning

what does a savior

change

in your

heart

and life

we're celebrating

him today

right

what difference

does it make

for you

I really want you

to write something

or something's

down

on your bulletin

what does a savior

mean

to you

what's the difference

in your life

I'll prime the pump

for you

while you're

thinking

it's good news

of great joy

for all people

so that includes

you and me

right

changes something

for us

so the fact

that you have

a savior

means all

these things

it means you

will never

be completely

alone

because God

is with us

you will never

face the fires

of hell

for your sin

never

it means no

failure in your

life will

cost you

God's

smile

no sin

you commit

can make

God stop

loving you

it means

there's nothing

you lack

for being

welcomed

into God's

family

it means

you're assured

of life

full and free

the way God

created and

designed you

to live

can you believe

that all of

those things

and many

many more

are true

all of that

because of

Christmas

because a savior

has been born

born to you

write something

in your own

words

what difference

does it make

in your life

that you

have a savior

I don't know

how you feel

this morning

but I can

assure you

you're not

worse off

or more

fearful

than those

shepherds

on the hillside

that night

who started

fearful

and ended

joyful

all because

of seeing

Jesus

Jesus

can do that

for you

too

and you can

know the joy

of life

lived with

nothing

to lose

nothing to

protect

nothing to

hide

nothing to

fear

because you're

a beloved

child of the

king of the

universe

dancing

and preaching

and playing

and sacrificing

and serving

all freely

and knowing

that he's

smiling

having the

comfort of

your father's

smile

and his

perfect care

for you

if that were

really true

what might

you do

if you could

really live

like that

what might

you try

if you had

that kind

of comfort

and joy

there's

Christmas dinner

conversation

for you

kids let me

say it this

way to you

you can write

what having

a savior

means to you

in your own

words

doesn't have

to be long

Christmas

Jesus your

savior being

born for

you means

God loves

you even

when you have

a bad day

even when

you're bad

having a

savior means

you never

ever have

to be scared

of God

he loves

you

you can

trust him

kids having

a savior

means that

that no matter

how great a day

it is and this

might be a

great day

for many of you

that your best

day is always

ahead of you

there's always

a best day

coming in the

future when

when God makes

everything right

the way it

should be

that's something

to be excited

about

no matter what

gifts you get

or don't get

today

you have an

incredible gift

a savior

who's been

born to you

a wonderful

wonderful savior

amen

let's pray

father thank you

for that gift

thank you for

our savior

may our

hearts

rejoice

that we

have a

father

that we

live in his

presence and

under his

smile

and that that

will never

change

we know

that's only

possible not

because of

who we

are but

because of

who Jesus

is and

how much he

loves us

give us great

joy in that

today and

always we

ask in his

name

amen

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