December 14

Fear not.

"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...'"  Luke 2:8-10

That is what the angels tell the shepherds, its what they tell Mary (Lk.1:30) and Zechariah (Lk.1:13)...its a common theme whenever the angels show up that they tell people...don't be afraid.  Why is that?  Probably because, as Sally Lloyd Jones describes these celestial beings--as warriors of light, their image is startling even terrifying.  Zechariah is gripped with fear, the great Roman soldiers when they see the angel at the empty tomb are frozen in fear and become like dead men.  Even in the Old Testament, the angels come to Elisha's defence in the great deliverance of chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:15-18).  They are so amazing that even John in Revelation bows down to worship them two separate times he is in such awe at their presence and power.  Its enough to be said that these angels, Gabriel, Michael and other servants of the Lord are majestic, displaying the holy glory of God and the response of humans is shear terror.  Its ironic though isn't it, these mighty beings sent to display the glory and prepare people for One who was greater than they are, yet the One they would sing about was the One who formed them...and yet, He did not come in such glory and power.  Rather, he came helpless, as a baby to a poor family in a small village in a dangerous time.  As Paul says in Philippians 2 he humbled himself in his incarnation.  There is not a more humble and gentle way that God could have chosen to come other than a newborn baby, so that we would fear not, but that he would draw us to himself...not unlike a newborn draws so many to look upon him with wonder and joy.  Philippians 2 goes on and says, "Therefore God exalted him, to the highest place and gave hi the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven (including the mighty angels!) and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-10.  The fear that holds us, the fear of death, the fear caused by sin Christ came to abolish.  So as we worship Him, along with the angels this advent, he teaches us to Fear Not!