If asked to name a theme from the Christmas story, most people would probably mention one of these:
- Love—expressed by God when he sent his Son to be born a man, then die in our place (John 3:16)
- Joy—that the Savior of the world has come (Luke 2:10-11)
- Peace—because Jesus is our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
- Hope—in the knowledge that our future is secure in heaven, when we believe in Christ (1 Peter 1:3-5)
But another word is mentioned more often in the account than any of the four mentioned above. Perhaps you’ve already discovered this theme:
FEAR.
You’ll remember:
- Mary was greatly troubled when Gabriel appeared. He had to reassure her, “Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:29-30).
- Joseph received an angelic visitor in a vision. “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,” he was instructed (Matthew 1:20).
- The shepherds were terrified when an angel materialized before them. They too heard: “Do not be afraid” (Luke 2:9-10).
by Edouard Joseph Dantan (1848-1897)
I jump and shriek if my husband walks into the room and I haven’t heard him coming. What must it feel like to witness the sudden appearance of an angel?
And just so we understand: Angels are formidable beings—quite different from the delicate, winged creatures or sweet little cherubs often found in paintings or nativity scenes. (See Daniel 10:5-6 for one description of a fearsome angel.)
One of our pastors said Sunday, “In my imagination, I see Gabriel about the size of Dwayne Johnson!”
No wonder these Christmas-story participants were afraid, to be confronted with such a large, commanding presence.
But surely the angel’s message of “Do not be afraid”–spoken three times in the narrative–is not just happenstance. Perhaps God would have us learn how to respond to fear from the examples of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.
First, Mary would teach us to counter fear with faith.
It’s doubtful the fear brought on by the angel’s appearance just evaporated at his command. Yes, his message contained good news, including great honor for Mary, but it also came with risks: “scandal, misunderstanding, lunacy charges, and possibly stoning.”[1]
Yet this young girl responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).
Mary demonstrates: Faith and fear can coexist as we exercise the former to control the latter.
Second, Joseph would teach us: “Do it afraid.”[2]
Courage is not the absence of fear; courage acts rightly in spite of fear.
Joseph is a prime example. He’d face scandal himself as news of Mary’s pre-marriage pregnancy spread through Nazareth. Would his neighbors whisper in the shadows as he passed? Might people refuse to employ him as their carpenter? Would his reputation as an honorable man (Matthew 1:19 GWT) be sullied forever? Surely such questions plagued Joseph.
Yet he chose to do the right thing.
Third, the shepherds would teach us to fight fear with truth.
Even while cowering in fear, the shepherds listened to the angel.
“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people,” the angel announced. The shepherds’ hearts that had pounded with fear the moment before must have continued racing, in anticipation of what this glad celestial news might be:
I imagine the angel’s voice boomed with emphasis upon each phrase. And now all-out excitement coursed through the shepherds’ veins. Fear had been eradicated by the truth of what God’s messenger had told them.
In our time we’ve no need to wait for an angelic visitation to bring us good news. Our Bibles provide all the truth, wisdom, and encouragement necessary to meet all circumstances—even those that cause fear.
Like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, we have a choice: give in to fear and become disheartened, paralyzed, and useless, OR we can exercise our faith to become encouraged, empowered, and useable.
[1] Patsy Clairmont, Joy Breaks, p. 109.
[2] Suzanne Eller, A Moment to Breathe, p. 43.
Art & photo credits: http://www.freebibleimages.org; http://www.wikimedia.com; http://www.picryl.com; http://www.pxhere.com; www. rawpixel.com; http://www.pixhere.com.
From the Inside Out 
This is a wonderful message!
Thank you, Linda Lee. So glad you found wonder here!
Even though they were fearful, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds chose to follow God’s will no matter the consequences. May we all be so committed and faithful when the Lord calls upon us. I so loved this reflection, Nancy. Thank you!
Amen to that second statement, Martha. And I’m delighted you liked this reflection!
Faith and fear are perhaps intertwined because we grow in faith only when we know about the fear of uncertainty for the faithless people.Perfectly written .Thank you very much for sharing .Take care.🙏😊🌹
You’re welcome, Francis. Thank YOU for stopping by and taking time to comment!
“Fear not” is mentioned 365 times in the bible. That shows that God does not want us to be afraid. Fear is a great bait for defeat. It can rob any believer of their glorious destiny.
You’re right, Chris: fear can lead us to defeat. Praise God he’s given us ways to fight fear, beginning with faith that’s continually renewed in his Word!
Nancy, this is so timely and clearly presented — a vital, bolstering word for us all in these uncertain times. Fraidy-cat me needs to hear it again and again. Thank you! (And the nod to D. Johnson certainly makes vivid for me Gabriel’s formidable presence! I wonder, did the angel also possess an infectious grin, and . . . did he use it that day?)
I need continual reminders, too, Laurie. Your idea that Gabriel delivered his startling announcement with an infectious grin sounds reasonable to me–and delightful to envision!
good words, Nancy. Love that you used the word AND because it is both, fear and faith isn’t it?
Fear seldom dissipates easily and quickly–at least for me. It often requires all the weapons of faith I can muster: scripture, prayer, songs, and worship!
Our pastor spoke on this very subject last Sunday. I constantly need reminders to exercise faith over fear. Thank you, Nancy for a most encouraging post!
So glad you found encouragement here, Pam. I need the reminders too–thus this post!
Amen Nancy, you captured this so well … Words and illustrations both. My husband and I saw The Messengers, Dallas Jenkins’ Christmas offering last night, and I keep thinking of Mary’s lines when Joseph asked her to remember what her messenger told her. “Do not be afraid.” Both of the angels appearances to Joseph and Mary had this reminder. He is Emmanuel, God is with us. Do not be afraid. God, help us remember.
Amen, Jody. His peace is always there for us; it’s up to us to exercise our faith and access it!
Thank you Nancy, for this wonderful reminder of faith and fear.
Sam
Thank you, Sam. So appreciate your encouragement!
Perfect for me! I constantly need to remind myself to put my faith into practice when I find myself afraid and anxious.
Me too, Cheri, me too!
Advent focuses so much on the first four words you listed that it’s easy for me to breeze over the fear factor. Interestingly, this past Sunday one of my preschool age Sunday Schoolers took one look at the picture of the angel Gabriel talking to Mary and his first words wow, “He looks scary.” So we discussed that. Your post is a perfect follow up to that dialogue. Thank you Nancy! I appreciate your closing exhortations , “Like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, we have a choice: give in to fear and become disheartened, paralyzed, and useless, OR we can exercise our faith to become encouraged, empowered, and useable.”
I hope your little Sunday School student can learn to view angels as big and powerful helpers of God–nothing to be afraid of! Together, Beth, may we exercise our faith to become encouraged, empowered, and useable!
What a great read Nancy!! Nicely written.
This makes me laugh: “One of our pastors said Sunday, “In my imagination, I see Gabriel about the size of Duayne Johnson!”
But yes what a great example of a healthy mixture of faith and fear pointing to trust in God’s perfect plan.❤️
Thank you, Alicia. So glad that quote about Dwayne Johnson made you smile! (I laughed when he said it!) P.S. I discovered he spells his first name with a “w” so edited the post!
AMEN! In a Christian’s life, there is no room in the same “vessel” for fear, doubt AND faith! 👍💗🕊😇
Good point, Roland–as we apply it, faith will displace the doubts and fear!
Such a powerful message, Nancy, with an angle (fear) most don’t choose to dwell on in the Story. With the shepherds, I always hear Linus speaking the words in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (which makes me long for more innocent days). More to the point, I ask myself if I could be like the shepherds, and lay down anything in my life in a heartbeat to pursue the good news brought by the angel. Perhaps we never really know until we’re faced with the possibility.
Thought-provoking musings, Dave! I had to smile at your reference to Linus. Our son (age 8) spoke the same lines of scripture in a Christmas play long ago and sounded very much like Linus–a memory made all the sweeter with the passing of the decades. Yes, may we be willing to lay down everything for the sake of our Savior! (If WE’re willing, he will give us the courage to do so!)
Loved this post, Nancy! I just watched The Chosen Christmas movie last night, and it reminded me of your post. They showed Mary remembering the angel’s message to her to not fear. What a message for us. Thanks for this perspective. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Mary, I am so sorry. This comment slipped by my attention without a comment in return. Our family did enjoy a Merry Christmas, thank you. Time with family this year was a special blessing (as opposed to a Zoom gathering last year). Now, 2022 is just hours away–I pray a blessed New Year to you, Mary!
Very true… it’s the ultimate living through the fear and repeatedly… as a mother and father I think they were always going to have fear knowing that Jesus was who he was but they pit one foot in front of the other every day… what great role models
Indeed, we can learn much for Mary’s and Joseph’s examples! Thank you for stopping by, Pauline, and taking time to comment.