Terror in the Night: The Startling Truth of the Christmas Story

Our culture says Christmas is a nostalgic season.

Luke 2:8–14 ESV

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, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:8-14

It is the season of Charles Dickens and Charlie Brown.

It is the season of chestnuts roasting and children nestling.

It is the season of chestnuts roasting and children nestling.

It is the season of mistle toe and ho, ho, ho.

Our culture says Christmas is a tender time.

The Scriptures paint a different picture of Christmas.

The scriptures say that Christmas was a terrifying time.

Luke 2:8–9 AV

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luke 2:9 YLT

9 and lo, a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear.

Luke 2:9 Scrivener 1881

9 καὶ ἰδού, ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς, καὶ δόξα Κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς· καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν.

“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.” (, ESV)

φοβέω φόβος phobeo phobos

This is where we get our word phobia from.

phobeo phobos

Why did Luke put it in the text twice right next to each other. Because it is emphatic! He his making a point - they weren’t just afraid they were fearfully afraid.

This wasn’t a soft light but a scary light.

This wasn’t a tender light but a terrifying light.

Revelation 1:16–17 ESV

16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,

rev 1 16

The Light of the Lord is not soothing but startling.

The story of Christmas is about sinful man’s encounter with a Holy God.

Genesis 3:8–10 ESV

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

How does the story of Christmas deal with the paralyzing fear etched into the hearts of men?

10

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

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.

The story of Christmas gives us the good news that one came to save us from our greatest fear!