Do Not Be Afraid

Two years ago, one late afternoon, I downloaded the newly released Slugs and Bugs Sings the Bible :Family Christmas album. Randall Goodgame, the creator of Slugs and Bugs, takes word for word bible passages and puts them to fun and quirky music for kids.

I decided to listen to the album while I prepared supper and seven songs in I heard the track, “Glory To God”. The verse was words I knew, taken from Luke 2, words I had heard spoken every Christmas.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

(Luke 2:14)

The chorus lyrics were, “Do not be afraid”, repeated 8 times. For all intents and purposes, a very simple song.

The first line of the chorus was expected, the second was nice.  But with each repetition that followed, I could feel the tension leaving my body, my breathing start to slow, and the peace of God pulling away layer upon layer of callouses around my heart. By the 8th time they sung “Do not be afraid”, tears were falling into the wok of stir fry.

I would not have said I was feeling particularly fearful that day. But, it pierced my heart, in a way that only a simple and beautiful melody can.

Many before me have needed to hear those words - Zechariah, Mary, the Shepherds, Abraham, Hagar, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Jehoshaphat, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Joel, Joseph, the disciples, Paul, and the suffering churches in Revelation.

Fear has had a vice grip on  humanity since the beginning. When God called to Adam in the garden, Adam's response was: “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” (Genesis 3:10)

We are so afraid, it’s almost difficult to separate being afraid from being human. It is in our fallen nature.

Reasons we are fearful run to gambit from our health, our finances, our futures, our past, the lives of those we love, choices we have made, suffering etc.etc.etc. It drives us, motivates us, distracts us, and keeps us up in the night.

That night, while making supper, I needed to hear those words. I needed to hear the Good News of Jesus’ arrival.

Do not be afraid.

I have heard in many a Christmas sermon that the angels start with “Do not be afraid.” because they themselves are terrifying to human eyes. And there are certainly good reasons to fear God - He is All Mighty, Powerful, Just, and we are a sinful people.

But, I cannot help but wonder if the angels say, “Do not be afraid.” because they can see the burden of fear humans bear and they seek to bring hope.

So, what is the reason we should not fear? What is cause of the angels’ hope?

Here is what they say, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the City of David a Saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10)

The reason we no longer need to fear or hide from God is because the mediator, the perfect sacrifice, and the Prince of Peace has come. The one who will stand and plead on our behalf is near. Do not be afraid for Jesus has come close, as close as you can because He wore our very skin.

We live in a world where this arrival of Jesus has already happened and it can be hard for us to understand just what this might have meant to those shepherds. But, to those that first heard these words it was an earth shattering message. It was a proclamation so outlandish that it could hardly be understood as true. It was an announcement that changed everything.

These words are words of hope. To those who walk alone, to those in whom despair is ruling, to those surrounded by darkness, to those who’s every breath is filled with fear, hear the words of the angels - “Do not be afraid.”

The Messiah has come and He is Yahweh! 

Yahweh has come to earth. The same God that stretched out His hand and displayed His wonders and might in Egypt. The God who shut the lions jaws, who parted the Jordan for the priests to cross over, who descended as a cloud in Solomon's temple - He is now here, in a manger, not far from where you stand.  

Our Saviour has come. He will right the ancient and present wrongs, He will make a new way forward in the desert and anyone is invited to receive Him as King. 

And, by His Holy Spirit, He is with us today. Right where you are reading this blog, and in whatever you do next and the next thing and the next thing.

Do not be afraid.

The Christian faith is always one of response, responding to the invitation of God. Will you respond to the Good News the angels sang out? Will you welcome the presence of Jesus into whatever circumstances you are fearing today? Will you let the words of the angels begin to peel away the protective layers, the hurt, the mistrust, the despair, and hopelessness? 

May you know the sweet and tender presence of Jesus wherever you are this week of Advent.

Do not be afraid.

The One who is making all things new has come near.

Take heart and have courage.

You are no longer alone.

Jesus has come.