Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
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Bishop’s Christmas Message
December 2012
August 2012
11th Edition
10th Edition
FEAR NOT !
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12).
But the most common meaning is “dread” as would be when one is in danger. The particular phrase “Fear not!” is used sixty-three, times meaning “Do not fear of the danger you are in.” However, the phrase “Fear not!” is used in a specific manner indicating that it is more than normal speech and a specialised form of greeting from God directly or through an intermediary to human beings. So when the angel announced to the shepherds, “Fear not!” there was an element to the listeners that this message was of divine origin. When used ordinarily by others, it is to convey a godly assurance. Now, when the angel announced to the shepherds “Fear not!” it was more than allaying a fear of mortal danger. It was meant to be delivering good news of national importance. And surely this was not realised by the shepherds. It was, also, news of cosmic importance. Why the shepherds then? To understand the choice of the shepherds, we need to come to terms with another related and forgotten dimension of Christmas. “The Massacre of the Innocents” is recorded in Matthew 2: 16-18. The birth of Jesus was good news for the world but for the families that night in Bethlehem, it was a holocaust! The role of the shepherds could only be seen as bearers of divine peace, to tell the weeping families, “Fear not!” for God is ultimately in charge. This is the sobering reality of Christmas.
Dearly beloved in Christ, we have been reading this text year after year. It is part of our reading during carolling and Christmas services, and it is so familiar that we often take it for granted. When the angel appeared to the shepherds, they were filled with fear and naturally the angel told them, “Fear not!” On reading the word “fear” in the Bible, it could help us to arrive at a much more profound and deeper meaning. There are more than 400 instances of the word “fear” or “afraid” in the Bible. They have a small range of meanings such as “piety,” “awe,” “anxiety” and “dread.”
In this edition Bishop’s Christmas Message Fears, Giving & Christmas Editorial Brief Report on 49th Diocesan Assembly ELCM Diakonia Ministries
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Sometimes, we wonder why the birth of Jesus was
Photo Gallery Bishop’s 49th Diocesan Assembly Address Bishop’s Main Programme for 2013 ELCM Outreach Ministries ELCM Events / News Updates ELCM Programme for 2013
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