Fear not! I bring you good tidings of great joy

Fri Dec 20, 2013

Christmas message by Bishop Wendell Davis,

Administrative Bishop of SVG and St Lucia

New Testament Church of God

Many years ago, on a cold hillside in the country of Judea, a group of shepherds’ night was interrupted by a member of the heavenly host. Whatever their posture was, whatever conversation they were having, they were startled by the sight of the angel. The words of the angel, though comforting and reassuring to us today in hindsight, must have sounded strange and unusual to this working-class group of people.{{more}} It was an interruption to their normal schedule, a disruption to their night! “Fear not!” the Angel said, “For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people”. These words are just as relevant and meaningful to us today as they were to those shepherds of long ago.

How comforting it must have been to a group of frightened shepherds on a dark, cold night to have heard the words “fear not”. Their thoughts may have been interrupted, their normal night changed, but the words spoken must have been reassuring and comforting. We too live in a world crippled by fear – fear of the unknown, fear of what we cannot control, and fear of the economic doom that overshadows our world. Man is fearful of failing health that lurks ever so present. We live in a world of fear and yet we need not to be afraid, for the words of the angel to the shepherds many years ago are words still echoing to us today – “Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people”. Jesus himself expanded on these words to his disciples in John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27).

As our hearts and our minds become consumed by the hustle and bustle of the festive season, and even as many try to drown their fear by indulging in different types of unhealthy and unproductive behaviours, let us reflect on the message to the shepherds again. “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; For unto you is born … a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10,11). This is the message of Christmas! This is the real story of hope and freedom from fear!

The joyful news delivered to Mary, the shepherds, the wise men, and so many others in the past, is still true and relevant today and is still worth spreading. So, let us sing it in our songs, preach it in our messages, testify of it in our testimonies, walk it in our walk, talk it in our talks. Let’s proclaim the “good tidings of great joy” to all people. For this is the story of Christmas!

Have a blessed and peaceful Christmas season everyone!