Do Not Be Afraid
December 16th, 2020
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:8-12, NIV
Most people have seen A Charlie Brown Christmas, the now iconic program based on the Peanuts cartoon characters. One of the highlights of this show is when blanket-carrying Linus hits the stage and starts with these verses. And this is when I start to get chills, because even a little boy with his security blanket understands that the wonder of Christmas is when our Messiah appears as a lowly baby to lowly shepherds in a field, and even then, we should fear not: this is good news that will yield great joy.
Imagine being a shepherd, living and working in the fields at night, watching sheep. You’re dirty, most likely tired, on the outskirts of the city, and generally not too esteemed among the people, too. Then imagine a light so bright and bold, an angel of the Lord, coming to you. Yet you don’t know what this angel, this beautiful light is. What is happening? Are you in trouble? (My first thoughts when in the unknown!) The shepherds were afraid, but the angel’s first words are those of assurance and comfort: “Do not be afraid. I bring you great news.” Then, these tired and worn shepherds were the first to learn of the birth of our Savior: the Messiah and Lord.
Isn’t it just like Jesus to have an angel come to the least among us and provide greetings of comfort and assurance? Fear is often one of the greatest feelings we experience when facing the unknown, but not only are the shepherds told, “Do not be afraid,” they are told why. Jesus does not enter the world just to be great news. He is a cause of joy. His announcement to the shepherds brings calm and an explanation why: our Savior has been born.
How many times have we faced uncertainty and fear this season? This year? How do we take the message from the angel and find comfort still today? In what ways do we allow Jesus to be our calm, our good news, and our joy?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for coming to us- those who are tired, lonely, afraid, and maybe not always esteemed by others. Thank you for giving us comfort and assurance to not be afraid. Thank you for being a source of good news. We ask for more of you in this season. Fill us with great joy, and help us be more bold in sharing your good news with those among us.
Andrea Fogt
