Come Let us Worship, Day 10, December 10

I’ve already blogged about the topic of Christmas greetings, suggesting that “God be with you, might be very appropriate.  But there is another greeting that is familiar in the Gospels:

Matthew 1:20 (ESV) ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:13 (ESV) ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Luke 1:30 (ESV) ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Luke 2:10 (ESV) ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Rational, realistic apprehension is part of human existence.  But there is a reality that changes our focus.  Not by denying what is real, but by focusing on what is of greater significance.  It's kind of like going to work with a headache and dropping an anvil on your toe.  Suddenly you head doesn't hurt as much!  When we look at the more significant truth of "fear not" its takes the sting out to the lesser truth of real fear.

Here's the more significant truth: Jesus Christ came to earth to take the bite out of fear.  Thus, the Christmas greeting to all is "fear not."   There are 3 mammoth fears that Christ addresses:

 

#1.   A fear we all have is a fear of suffering. My mother once told me that she wasn’t scared to die, she just didn't like the idea of dying.  We all avoid suffering as much as we can.  Pain is painful. 

Jesus Christ came to earth and lived a perfect life.  Yet as He faced His most painful event, the Cross, He said to His disciples: ““Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1–3, ESV) .

Today, those of us who have trusted Christ, are on, what Bunyan would call, a journey to the Celestial City.  Christ has prepared a place for us.   It is so magnificent, words cannot express it's glory.  In fact when the Apostle Paul considered the suffering of this life in comparison, he wrote, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV).  Paul's not minimizing our pain, nor marginalizing it.  Paul is saying that the suffering of this life compared to the eternal wonders of Heaven can only be described as "light" and "momentary".

#2.   Another fear we have is regarding the consequences of our wrongdoing.  Each one of us knows in the depths of our hearts that someday we will face God.  The Bible says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27, ESV).  We know God has to be just and fair; and we know we have sinned.  Jesus came to deal with that fear.  The Bible teaches us “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV).  Through His life and death, Jesus has made full provision for our salvation from God's judgment.

#3.   Lastly, the worst enemy of all is death.  Death is the result of sin.  Death will likely come to all of us.  But Jesus Christ came to destroy death.  The Apostle Paul signaled this truth when he wrote, ““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55–57, ESV). Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,” (John 11:25, ESV).

Truly we can say, as Christians, "Fear not."  Suffering has hope. Judgment has no condemnation. Death has no sting.  In the Christmas carol, 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' we sing this stanza:

"Fear not, then," said the angel,
"Let nothing you affright;
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan's power and might."

"Ponder what could happen if Christians began to greet others with alternative biblical phrases. What might people think, and how might they respond, to a reassuring 'Fear not!'?"[1]

Father, the song of Christmas is “fear not”.  What beautiful melodies to our ears! We live in a world where fear is rational and real.  Yet Christ comes to us at this Season of the year and reminds us to “fear not”.  The gift of Christ at Christmas is “fear not”.  The opposite of fear is not fearlessness, but faith.  Enlarge our faith.  Enable us to trust you more.  Thank you that you came to relay our fears. 

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[1] Wiersbe, Warren W.; Wiersbe, David W. (2012-10-01). C Is for Christmas: The History, Personalities, and Meaning of Christ's Birth (p. 83). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.