David Bahn – Reflections

Luke 2:8-14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

I remember learning the Luke 2 Christmas account in the King James version of the Bible. When the shepherds saw the angels and the glory of the Lord they were “sore afraid.” It means that the shepherds were “severely afraid.” More modern translations have it as “filled with great fear.” It is comforting to think of angels as peace-loving servants of God who are helping us along the way. It is more accurate, however, to recognize that angels are fear-instilling beings. Though they bring good news of great joy, the must first tell the shepherds to “fear not.”

The manifestation of God’s glory is both comforting and frightening. I’m not certain I ever really comprehend that truth. I’m a bit like Moses here when he wanted to see God’s glory. God told him he could not see his glory and live. So he hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and passed by him, placing his hand over Moses and letting him see only his back, for even to see God’s face would do Moses in. It is a fearful thing when God’s glory is shining around the angels.

The angels, however, deal in that glory. They dwell in the presence of God, even beholding God’s face. They now sing his praise, “Glory to God in the highest!”

What a contrast this is to the baby in the manger! A baby may be a cause for fear, but it’s the responsibility that brings fear, not the baby itself. Babies tear down walls. Babies elicit love and even silliness. There is no need for a “fear not!” when it comes to the shepherds’ visit to the manger. And this is the cause for which the angels sang. A Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. God has come to save us. Glory to God in the highest!

Luke 2:1-20

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.