The Fear of Christmas

The Story of Christmas preaches 2 sermons:

That God has Come...

That God is coming again...

We live in the In-Between

“Christ has come…”

And,

“Come Lord Jesus…”

Let me ask you a question…when God comes…how do you think you are going to respond?

I think how the Shepherds responded hits the nail on the head.

Luke 2:8–9 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.

Shepherds were rough around the edges...

They were unable to keep the Jewish law very well. They could not observe all the rules about hand-washings, or Sabbath keepings, or the rules and regulations about food and cleanliness.

So they were looked at as dirty-rotten-scoundrel’s…and so when an angel of the Lord shows up...

Luke says at the end of verse 9: “they were filled with great fear...” which is a classy way to say, “they had to go change their underwear...”

You see…when God came for the first time at Christmas…fear was the first feeling...

I love the way Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it,

“The coming of God is truly not only a joyous message, but is, first, frightful news for anyone who has a conscience. And only when we have felt the frightfulness of the matter can we know the incomparable favor.”

When God shows up…the only response we should have is, “Woe is me...” Fear will be the first response...

And without Christ…without God coming here at Christmas…fear would be our only response...

But Christmas teaches us that while fear is the first response to his coming…it doesn't have to be the last response.

Look at what the Angel says as he speaks on behalf of God in verse 10...

“Fear not...”

Those are miraculous words...

“You dont have to be afraid of God anymore guys...”

Why?

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.

We dont have to fear God the next time he comes, because of what God did at Christmas.

A savior was born…2000 years ago…Christ was born...

So now...

At Christmas, God came to judge sin by becoming sin for all those who believe.

At the Second Coming…God will come to judge all those who dont...

And so as we wait in this inbetween time...you and I have 2 options…

fall down in fear at the first coming of God in Christ

Or fall down in fear at the second coming of God in Christ

If you do at the first coming…you will hear the words, “Fear not...”

If you fall down in fear at the second coming of Christ…you will hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you...”