Don’t Be Afraid

Reverend Philip Stringer

Luke 2:1-14

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus Christ, be born in us anew today and speak to us through your word, that we may be living mangers who present you to the world. AMEN

Some years ago — when our daughters were ages 7 and 3 — we were watching a movie -- a Christmas movie from a story by Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol. You all certainly know it well. In the story, three ghosts come to visit an old and selfish old man.

The ghosts appear on the TV screen -- and I look at the face of my seven- year-old daughter. “Uh-oh,” I am thinking. She is trying to decide if she should be afraid.

“Don’t worry,” we assure her. It is only make believe. Don’t worry. It’s not real.

Sometimes, I wonder if we do the same thing with the Bible story we just heard. I suspect that there is hardly a person in the room here tonight who thinks that the Christmas story is a scary story. Manger scenes, soft hay and the cattle are “lowing.” There are children’s pageants. It’s about as UN-scary as you can get.

The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds told them not to be afraid. My first thought is that he says this so that they won’t be afraid of the angel’s dazzling appearance in the night -- probably so.

But the more we understand about Jesus -- and what his birth means-- the more I think we will come to see that the angel’s words are not about the angels. They are about Jesus.

The angel speaks to you and me, again today. And he tells us: “God is coming . . . but don’t be afraid.” I wonder if we have the courage to believe that these words are spoken to us, and that they are true.

And I wonder if we have the courage to come to the manger and see him. I think that it is harder to do this than we want to admit. Because the manger is in your own heart. The angel tells us not to be afraid -- but in truth, there are many things about his coming that make us afraid.

•He is the Prince of Peace and the Mighty Judge who comes to establish justice and righteousness.

•He calls those who have too much to hand it over to those who have too little.

•He calls the powerful to become vulnerable.

•He calls all people to deny their own desires and turn their entire lives over to the will of God. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

For you and me -- who by the standards of most of the world -- are the wealthy and powerful -- you and I who have many possessions, many freedoms -- There is much about his coming to make us afraid.

The birth of this baby is a threat to a life lived selfishly. His birth is a threat to you and me placing ourselves at the center of our lives.

So today we need to hear the words of the angel. They are spoken, not only for the shepherds, but for you and me. “Don’t be afraid.”

For Adam and Eve, after they had entered into sin, they heard the sound of the Lord coming, and they hid themselves because they were afraid. They knew that their sin was reason to fear God.

When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, we read that Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

Elijah, also, wrapped his face in his scarf when he went out to meet the Lord.

And then we hear these words of the angel: don’t be afraid. Go and look into the face of God. You don’t need to hide. You don’t need to wrap your face -- for see, God is wrapped in flesh.

We are born children of a fallen humanity. We know the power of sin in this world. We know what it does to us, and we know how to use it against others. It is the way of tyrants and oppressors. It is the way of suffering -- We each know what it is like to be the victim under an abuser — a bully — a tyrant -- and we know what it is like to be a tyrant over others.

Jesus comes to take the power of this world away. He comes to be near us, and although he is our maker, and we are made in his image, there is much we don’t understand about him. His ways are foreign to us.

“Love your enemies,” he says, “and pray for those who persecute you.”

“Whoever wants to be the greatest among you must be the servant of all.”

These are terrifying words to us.

But the angel says to you tonight, “do not be afraid.” Yes, he is here -- and it is terrifying to have your world turned up-side-down — but I promise you: it is good news.

I wonder why it is that we fear the will of God. Why are we afraid to come all the way to the manger that is in our hearts -- and peer over the edge of it and see that Jesus has come to YOU -- he has come into YOUR life.

Why are we afraid that following God’s way leads to sadness and loss? In truth, God’s will for you is very simple: That you be truly happy. When Jesus grew up, he said it himself like this: “I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.”

The angel said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy -- to YOU is born a savior. God has come to be with YOU.”

So come to the manger. Not just today. Not just in a worship service. But come and see that he has come and is born in your home. In your relationship with your mother and father. In your relationship to your wife and your husband and your children. In your relationship with your friends and your neighbors.

He has come and is born in the work that you do and in your trip to the market. In your encounters with strangers. In your rest and your play, Jesus has come to be with you.

And he comes to bring you into a new life. A life where you know you are loved and held safely in that love. A new life where love is powerful in you. A new life in which you are empowered to return good for evil. A new life in which you become the instrument of grace and mercy and healing.

Do not be afraid to let his love shape your life. Do not be afraid to look into the manger. Do not be afraid. His presence and his way for you is good.

AMEN