The simple-minded shepherds were sore afraid at this outburst of heavenly music, as wiser people would have been.  An angel voice sang the solo: 

Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:  for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

“Be not afraid!” Sin has wrought such disorder in this world that the thought of spirit visitors frightens us and heaven itself must not come too near.  There are great reasons for fear in this darkened world, but the coming of Jesus into it is not one of them.  His only mission is to release us from the bondage and bitterness of sin and let us out into the glorious liberty and joy of the sons of God.  And Christ has in a marvelous degree cast fear out of the world and poured joy through all its channels, as the sun disperses the night and spills its splendor over hills and vales.

The good tidings announced the birth of a Saviour, and this is the best news this sin-stricken world can hear, for sin is the root of all our fear and misery.  Back of every bitter tear lies a guilty thought or deed.  This connection is often visible upon the surface and stabs us in the face, and then it may lie hidden under many generations, but it is always there.  Sin is the disease that poisons all our blood and blights our physical and moral and spiritual health and happiness.  Cut this ugly tree up by the roots and all its scarlet fruits and poisonous leaves will wither; cure this disease and our human world will be transformed into a new Paradise of God.  A Saviour is the supreme need of the world, and his birth was news good enough to bring singing angels to earth and fill all the centuries with song.

Definite directions were given for finding the new-born Saviour in the city of David, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger.  The angelic message was not simply a song in the air, a halo of celestial light, a splendid but fading vision, but it bound itself down to definite places and circumstances and left something solid.  Again we note that this thing, was not done in a corner and is not afraid of facts.  Jesus was a true human child and took upon him our form down to his infant clothes.  The Christ is a great wonder in his divine personality, ever transcending our utmost comprehension, but we can understand his swaddling bands.  Christianity is not all mystery, but it also comes down close around us and embodies itself in many plain facts and duties.  “Ye shall find the babe.”  The shepherds were not left to wander around in uncertainty, but sent direct to the place.  Christ is not hidden from us, clear directions point out the place where he is, and every soul that seeks him shall find him.

The angel solo broke out into a heavenly chorus which gave a broad interpretation of the meaning of the birth of Christ: