Fearful Angels Bring Peace
Luke 2:1-20
Have you ever wondered why the Shepherds were afraid of the angels on Christmas Eve? Shepherds were among the most rugged of individuals, living alone in the hills, defending their flocks against thieves and lions. They would give any modern wilderness reality tv adventurer a stiff challenge. They had no GPS, no camp stoves, and no multi layered winter weather gear. Shepherds did not scare easily.
You especially wonder why the Shepherds were afraid when you look at the angels that adorn our Christmas cards and artwork. They are either chubby little cherubs or peaceful, white winged creatures, looking like the heavenly choir.
But like so many Biblical realities we remake the angels into soothing spirits. A brief survey of God’s Word paints a different picture for us. Isaiah tells us of an angel who killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night. He also tells us the angels have six wings, two cover their feet, with two they fly, and with two they cover their faces in the presence of God. In 1 Chronicles we are told of an angel who stood with a sword between heaven and earth and made King David so afraid he could not pray. That reminds us of the angel guard with the flaming sword placed at the door of Eden to keep sinners from the tree of life. An angel of the Lord appeared to Moses at the burning bush and an angel protected the Israelites from Pharaoh’s army. An angel was sent before the Israelites into the promised land to drive out the inhabitants of the land so Israel could dwell there.
If you want your nativity set to be accurate you might want to replace your adorable angel with a Force Recon Marine or a Green Beret. The angels are God’s army, His warriors. So imagine the shepherds have quieted the sheep down for the night and are taking pulls from a bottle of Jagermeister when they are surrounded by the God’s warrior angels. Six wings, swords in hand, shining as brightly as the heavens. The shepherds sobered up in a hurry.
But tonight, we learn that the sword is not the weapon of the angels. Their weapon is the Word. God’s Word. The word angel does not mean warrior. It means messenger. Our English word “Evangelism” has the word “angel” in the middle of it and “Evangelism” means to tell someone the good news, to be a messenger to them of Jesus.
So while the angels might be armed with swords and have incredible spiritual power, their chief weapon and chief duty is to wield theWord. This is what the Angels bring the Shepherds – God’s Word, good tidings, the great Christmas message. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
The angel’s mild message may seem to clash with their military might, but it doesn’t. The babe in the manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, has come to do battle, but not in man’s way. He will do battle in God’s way – the way of love and sacrifice. In the same way the angels aren’t armed with swords to fight. They are armed with God’s Word to preach.
Sometimes I think when people come to Christmas Eve services I should warn them that Pastor Scrooge or Pastor Grinch is preaching. On the one hand this is the most glorious, wonderful night of the whole year. We celebrate that God became man, that the Son of God was born Jesus of Nazareth from the womb of Mary. On the other hand the reason God had to come in the flesh is sobering.
This little baby born of Mary has entered the world to fight the enemy you don’t want to acknowledge – yourself, your sin. He has come to fight the enemy you love – the world with all its promises and pleasures. He has come to fight the enemy you don’t believe in – the Devil. Do you really think once COVID is beaten another virus won’t come out of China? Do you believe President Biden will bring unity to the United States now that the bad orange man has lost? Do you think your real problems are simply viruses, politicians, and not being able to enjoy daily pleasures like eating out? The cause of division, hatred, and hopelessness is not out there. It’s in here – in your heart and my heart. We’re sinners. We’re selfish. We want to win and so we hurt and harm each other – mostly in our own homes. We love to blame the enemy out there, but the enemy of God and peace and hope is here – in the sinner.
So hear the message loud and clear. Fear not these enemies. Fear not your sins. Fear not what you have done. For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ‘ Jesus will beat your sin, not by power, but by sacrifice. He has come in human flesh to be humanity’s Savior, by taking the sin of all humanity into His flesh and dying. God hates your sin. Therefore, He hates you, but in His mercy, He sends His Son to be His enemy, so that you can be His friend once again. Jesus is born to die so you can be baptized into His death and be born again as God’s child. At the manger we win because at the cross Jesus lost. He gave Himself up to His Father’s wrath and He handed His life over to death.
As strange as Force Recon Angels preaching to Shepherds, so strange is the mystery of the Son of God’s birth and death. By losing His life Christ won. He won forgiveness for your sins. He won life and the resurrection for you. He won your acquittal before God. You are “not guilty” of sin, because your Savior, Christ the Lord, died for you. The Devil loses tonight, not by might, but to an infant, to a God who humbles Himself to dwell in human flesh. Death loses tonight because the Savior of sinners has come to die. You lose your sin tonight, not by being good for Santa, but by believing your Savior Jesus of Nazareth was born, that He died, and rose again for you. That is the mighty weapon wielded by the Angels to the Shepherds and to you. It brings real lasting peace. In the name of Jesus. Amen.