Christmas Fear?

Some people at Christmas, those about age 10, have a fear that all they will get for presents is underwear.  Some people at Christmas, those about age 35, have a fear that they will not be able to afford to pay for gifts. Businesses can fear that Christmas sales won’t reach expectations and that their business will fail. Other people at Christmas have the fear of how they will get through their first Christmas without a lost loved one.  The “most wonderful time of the year” can be wrought with fear. 

In the Christmas stories in Matthew and Luke we actually find a good deal of fear surrounding Christ’s first advent.  Look at the list of people the Bible records as being afraid.  Zacharias the father of John the Baptist was afraid.  (Luke 1)  A few months later Mary was afraid.  (Luke 1)  A few months later Joseph was afraid.  (Matt. 1)  A few months later the shepherds were afraid.  (Luke 2)  A few months later Herod was afraid.  (Matt. 2)  When Herod was afraid we then see that all Jerusalem was troubled with him because he was crazy.  For the best news ever there was a lot of fear.

We find that to all but Herod God offered comfort and assurance.  The angel said to Zacharias, to Mary, to Joseph and finally to the shepherds, “Fear not.”  Each of these people placed their faith in God and received His comforting words, “Fear not”.   Those words of assurance did not stop when He spoke it to them.  They echo down through the ages to all who believe.  It is the very message of Christmas, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

The whole message of Christmas is that God has loved us so much that He wants to end our fears.  He wants to comfort us, hold us, love us and give us His joy and peace.  As we enter the Advent season let us remember His words to all who believed, “Fear Not.” 

In a new hymn “’Fear Not’, the Angel Said” (1999) Carolyn Gillette wrote:

“’Fear not!’ The angel said, ‘God’s joy is in the air! Now go to Bethlehem and see a newborn baby there. A Savior, yet a child! So young, and yet the Lord! God’s grace astounds, God’s love surrounds this sinful, hurting world.’ Fear not when questions come: How can I know God’s way? Do my possessions weigh me down? Can God change me today? For Jesus came to be true bread that satisfies; and in his birth, God touched the earth. Christ saves, forgives, and guides.”  (Tune: “This Is My Father’s World”)

 

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