Bloggy Advent December 6: “Fear Not”

“Fear Not.” The most repeated phrase in the Bible. Two words. It is more than coincidental that we hear that over and over in both the Old and New Testaments. Perhaps God knew that we needed the reassurance. Or more to the point, that mankind has always been plagued with fear. Whether it drives us or paralyzes us. If anyone had the circumstances the induce fear, it would have been Mary and Joseph. Heavy news-being told you will be responsible for raising God’s son. No pressure there! And naturally, their reaction: FEAR.

The Message version says that Mary was “thoroughly shaken”–ya think? “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.'” Luke 1: 30 (MSG). As for Joseph, he had all but decided to break things off with Mary when “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'” Matthew 1: 20-21 (NRSV). Thankfully, Mary and Joseph had some heavenly hosts to help wrap their brains around this news. They were going to have a baby. Whether you’ve had babies or not, EVERYONE knows the universal truth about this news: a baby changes everything. EVERY-THING. I remember being ill-prepared for how much having a baby would change my world, beginning with the recovery from a C-section and definitely when the moment neared that we were going to be sent home from the hospital. With our baby. And she was OUR responsibility. So compound that times infinity when you factor in: 1) Mary and Joseph were not yet married; 2) kids weren’t even on their radar; and, oh yeah, 3) this baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Can you see them? Imagine what they must have felt! I’ll tell you how you can-watch this video. The song, “A Baby Changes Everything” by Faith Hill, sums it up. Angels appear too–not to say “fear not” but to sing “Glory to the newborn King.” Because Jesus is born, there IS no need to fear anymore. No fear-Jesus is here. Hallelujah!

-Sherry