No Longer Fear

Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 1:68-79

In Jeremiah God talks about the false shepherds, the Judean Kings who destroy and scatter the sheep. Days are coming, however, when God will raise up a righteous branch of David who will be a wise king who executes justice and righteousness in the land. This king will bring salvation to Judea and will be called the Lord of Righteousness. This is the first messianic prophecy in the book of Jeremiah. God says the Lord will raise up true shepherds who will shepherd them – guide and protect them. Due to this they no longer fear.

Our passage in Luke is another Messianic prophecy this time done by Zechariah whose son will be John the Baptist. John will be one of the good shepherds mentioned in Jeremiah. Zechariah tells how his son will be the prophet of the most high and give God’s people knowledge of salvation by forgiveness of sins in Christ.

Zechariah talks about how what Jeremiah has prophesied is coming true. God has remembered God’s covenant to Abraham. God has redeemed Israel by sending Jesus – a mighty savior of the house of David rescuing them from their enemies so they can serve God without fear. This will begin with John the Baptist’s career of guiding their feet into the way of peace.

Jeremiah is one of the many holy prophets of old Zechariah speaks of. Even though Judah rebelled against God, the Lord in God’s mercy will bring the ability of salvation which John the Baptist will proclaim, before the Lord appears, preparing the way of salvation and forgiveness of sins. Again, the mercy of our God is mentioned to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Today it is so easy to fear what the leaders of our countries and other countries might do. We also have many false shepherds who only want power and money and not only neglect the sheep but scatter and destroy them. Yet we have the Good Shepherd Christ, the Lord of Righteousness who has brought us salvation from death and the evil ways of the world. Let us be thankful as we celebrate Christ’s birth that God has kept God’s promise and will continue to be our Good Shepherd protecting and guiding us through the hard days so that we can no longer fear. Amen

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