We indeed gained new insights and enjoyed meaningful conversations as a family, but my biggest takeaway this year came from a rather simple and perhaps overlooked part of the Christmas story: Do Not Be Afraid.
This phrase is pronounced four times throughout the narrative, starting with Zechariah. He is serving in the temple when "an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard'" (Luke 1:11-13a).
Next came Mary. When the angel Gabriel appeared to her, she was "greatly trouble at his words" and clearly felt enough fear for him to then say, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:29-30).
Following Mary was Joseph. After discovering that Mary was with child, and then deciding to divorce her, "an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife'" (Matthew 1:20).
Lastly, many months later when Jesus was born, the shepherds were given the same message. They were tending sheep in the fields nearby when "an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people" (Luke 2:9-10).
Do not be afraid, Zechariah.
Do not be afraid, Mary.
Do not be afraid, Joseph.
Do not be afraid, shepherds.
Do not be afraid.
The message was needed because each of these people experienced something that created fear in their hearts. The unexpected appearance of an angel would cause anyone to be afraid. It would be an unfamiliar, shocking experience - and what is unfamiliar and shocking naturally causes fear. It comes as no surprise that being visited by an angel would instill instant fear.
Beyond the fear of being in the presence of an angel, however, the first three recipients of the angelic message had more to fear. Zechariah was afraid that he and Elizabeth would never have a child. Mary was afraid of how being an unwed mother would alter her life and reputation. Joseph was afraid of being attached to someone with such apparent sin, and what that would mean for his wounded heart as well as what a damaged reputation would mean for his/their familial relationships and social life.
These people had reasonable cause to be afraid.
But the angel was clear: no matter what you're thinking, no matter what you're feeling, I say to you, do not be afraid.
Each person who received this message thought there was reason to be afraid. Each person clearly felt fear already. What they didn't realize, until the angel said it to them, was that they didn't actually have a reason to be afraid. The angel, and therefore God Himself, declared to each of these people that although they thought they should be afraid, they didn't actually need to be.
The Lord was essentially saying, "I declare to you that you have nothing to fear."
This truth from the Christmas story has me thinking: What are we needlessly afraid of? What fears would fade away if we listened for the Lord to speak into our hearts and minds, "Do not be afraid"?
We've been talking a lot about fear in recent months because our son has been irrationally afraid of some things. We regularly speak truth when moments of fear overtake him, but it wasn't until we entered the Christmas story daily that I realized how important God's message to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds was. I think the repeated phrase is significant not only because it's repeated so many times, but also because Israel as a whole had much to be afraid of.
In a time of oppression by a great enemy (Rome), spiritual darkness (the Lord hadn't spoken to them in 400 years), and the ongoing millennia-long project of waiting for the Messiah to appear, Israel was not at her best and was arguably in a vulnerable, fearful state at this point in her history.
When the angel said, "Do not be afraid," he was, yes, speaking directly to the hearers of his message, but also speaking a broader theme to a broader audience. "Israel, do not be afraid! Like Zechariah, the Lord has heard your prayers. Like Mary, you have found favor with God. Like Joseph, you can continue with your good plans. Like the shepherds, I want to share good news of great joy with you. Do not be afraid! The Lord is near, and here, with you."
It is no coincidence that the message to not be afraid was proclaimed in conjunction with the coming of the Messiah. The two go hand in hand: Do not be afraid! God is with us!
I remember reading a devotional last year that explained how the two names of the Messiah are tantamount to understanding the Good News. Jesus means "The Lord saves" and Immanuel means "God with us." These two names are only good news when they go together. God With Us is dangerous news for sinners, unless he also comes as God Is Salvation. Together, these names are the gospel" (God With Us: A Journey Home by Jeremy Pierre).
So God With Us is good news! And because our good and faithful God is with us, we need not fear.
Do not be afraid! God is with us!
I think, for naturally fearful creatures such as ourselves, that it would help if we pause in moments of fear to ask, "Should I be afraid?"
Sometimes the answer will be yes, and then we should pray for God to strengthen us and help us through the fear.
But more often than not I think the answer will be no, and we can realize that our fear is based on feelings instead of reality. Feelings can easily betray us, as we've told our son many times, and we need to remind ourselves of what is true. Should I be afraid of this thing, this person, this experience? Often the answer is no, do not be afraid. The Lord knows that we think we should be afraid, but in truth there is no need to fear. And in those moments, we should pray for God to speak the same message to us that he spoke to those during the Incarnation: "Do not be afraid."
By God's grace, as we let the words of truth wash over us and tend to us, hopefully we can have the same response as Zechariah whose part in the story ends by being filled with the Holy Spirit and writing a song of praise; or the same response as Mary who said to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as you have said"; or the same response as Joseph, who did what the angel of the Lord had commanded; or the same response as the shepherds who "spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child."
Clearly, each of these people overcame their fear. Each of these people believed the words of the angel and let it transform their experience.
That is my hope and prayer for our son, but also for myself and our whole family, especially as we enter a new year. I do not want to fear what has no reason to be feared. I do not want to be afraid, because the knowledge that God is with us has the power to cast out fear.
So I've taken great hope from the Christmas story this year in a way that hasn't penetrated my heart before.
Do not be afraid.
It is a resounding and repetitive message, and I pray these words of truth will not only help us, but transform us in the year ahead.
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