While the Lord Jesus was being born in the city of Bethlehem, outside the city, shepherds were keeping watch over their sheep that night. “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid” (Lk. 2:9). It is interesting to note that every time angels appear in the stories surrounding the birth of our Lord, the people are afraid: Mary (Lk. 1:30), Joseph (Mt. 1:20), Zacharias (Lk. 1:12–13), and now the shepherds are greatly afraid when the angel stood before them.

Adam and Eve had never known fear until sin came into the world. When the Lord called for Adam, he answered, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Gen. 3:10). Notice three things that sin brought with it: both guilt and fear in “I was afraid,” and shame in “because I was naked.” Sin brought in guilt, fear, and shame, and this world has suffered with those three things ever since. We are guilty before a holy God because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

But the word that surrounded the birth of our Lord was “Do not be afraid!” The angels declared to these shepherds, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” The Lord Jesus Christ came to demonstrate the love of God, and “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18).

On the cross, the Lord Jesus took our guilt and shame, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). His death explains His birth!