“And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people.” Luke 2:10

It is not strange that the shepherds were sore afraid when suddenly out of that star-studded canopy of the sky there burst upon them a heavenly messenger. The glory of the Lord shone around them with the appearance of the angel, and when sinful mortals stand in the glory of the Most High, it is not unusual for them to be fearful. And sensing their fear, the angel said: “Be not afraid.”

The fear of the shepherds was predictable, but it was unnecessary here, for the presence of the angel was not for the purpose of announcing some impending doom or evil, but for the purpose of bringing good tidings. So the angel immediately calmed their fearfulness with words of assurance: “Be not afraid.” And then, “for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people.”

Good tidings! Oh, how we love to hear good tidings! The word “tidings” means a “message” or “news.”

So much of the news we hear or read today is bad, or at least not good. Perhaps life was not so much different in the days when the shepherds were watching their flocks by night.

But in the announcement of the angel, there was good news, for them, for us, and for all the world. Good tidings of great joy!

No doubt, the coming of the Christmas season signals a time of joy for the world today too. With eagerness the children look forward to its coming. It‘s a season of good will and peace among men, ami the spirit of most people is characterized by cheerfu lness and gladness.

But let us make sure that the joy which characterizes the season is indeed the joy of the gospel! For what was it that made this message “good tidings of great joy” for the shepherds? What was the news which could calm their fears in the midst of the glory of the Lord that shone around them?

Precisely this: that the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born that day in the city of David! Does that sound like something about which you could or should get excited? Is this the news that makes your Christmas worthwhile?

For many people, it is not so. The real joy of the day is turned in to a rejoicing in the things of this world. The great Gift of God is hidden under a stack of earthly presents. Or the Baby Jesus is adored, but only as the one who was destined to be the best man who ever lived, who would show us how to be and do good and fill the world with unselfishness and love. But such joy is false joy, lasting only as long as the season, and is totally unable to remove the fear one senses who stands in the presence of the glory of the Lord.

Though we live in that kind of a world where such an influence is powerfully felt, let us sense the depths of these “good tidings of great joy.”

A Savior has been born!

And what is a Savior? The one who is able to deliver us from the greatest evil, namely, our own condemnation in the presence of the glory of the Lord. To speak of sin and guilt and condemnation is not a sour note which dulls the joy of Christmas. For Christmas joy is only real joy when these good tidings have sin and shame for their background. He who has no sin has no need of Christmas. For Christmas joy is only real joy when these good tidings have sin and shame for their background. He who has no sin has no need of Christmas. He who does not confess and acknowledge his sin celebrates Christmas in vain. It is when we know our need that the real joy of Christmas grips our hearts and we cling to the Savior who makes us partakers of the highest good.

To be cleansed from sin, to be delivered from the dominion of Satan, to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness, to experience that the Lord is gracious and merciful, to know and love Him as He knows and loves us, to be joint-heirs with Him of the Kingdom of God—these are the joys of Christmas!

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people.” For all people? For all people? For you and me? Indeed, not just for the shepherds. Not even just for Israel. But for all people! Let the news ring throughout the world! He and He alone is the Savior of sinners! He is the only One through whom we have life!

Oh, for many He is a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense. And many who celebrate His birth will stumble over Him. and unless they repent, will dash themselves to pieces. Let us then, who have life through Him, renew our commitment and our efforts as we celebrate Christmas, to bring the “good tidings of great joy” to those who are yet in darkness.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, All heaven and nature sing.