Be Not Afraid

Shepherd Fields

Be Not Afraid

Day 5

I will be reading very familiar words from the book of Luke 2:

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is…Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

A good Bible scholar when quizzed about where to find the birth narrative of Jesus will be quick to point to the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. The two accounts hold the familiar images of a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem in the time of Herod the Great. Luke and Matthew have much to say about the young virgin Mary and the Carpenter Joseph, much to say about angels lighting the sky above the heads of lowly shepherds, much to say about mysterious men from the East bringing gifts to the Christ Child. These are the stories we look forward with eagerness to hear during Christmas.

But…there is another birth narrative, one that is often overlooked, no manger, no mention of Mary or Joseph, no wise men, just one sentence and 8 words. This birth narrative is found in the book of John. Listen now…to the word of God.

The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us

And there it is, the 8-word narrative of the birth of Jesus.

A very literal translation of these words puts it this way “God put on a body of flesh and moved into our neighborhood and pitched His tent among us.”

So…what does it mean to us…sitting here today, that, in a place very close to where we are sitting right now, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us? God came down. Emanuel…God with us. Very close to where we are sitting right now the Angel of the LORD announced the birth of our savior. To shepherds in the fields…the angels first words from the book of Luke were powerful and…a little curious. Do you remember what the angel said? The first words were “Be not afraid”

John tells us “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” God is with us and Luke says the angel tells us “be not afraid”

Be not afraid, and God is with us. These are actually the two most often repeated phrases of the Bible: “Be not afraid” and “I am with you.”

I do think the shepherds needed to hear those words that night. Fear…is a natural reaction. I don’t think any of us should be able to remain standing in the presence of God. The idea of fear of the LORD is often misunderstood. If we have an all loving Father in heaven who always and only desires our very best…what is there it fear? The prophet Isaiah helps us to put fear of the LORD in a proper perspective. As I read this passage I would challenge you to truly put yourself in the place of Isaiah as he has this vision of the very throne room of God. Put yourself in that throne room and as I read this passage allow yourself to fear the LORD. From the 6^th Chapter we read:

 

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord…sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,

The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I live among a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

As we gather here today we are acutely aware that we are people of unclean lips and we live among a people of unclean lips. Unclean, impure, imperfect cannot bear to stand in the presence of our HOLY GOD.

The bible doesn’t mention it, but I suspect those shepherds were flat on their faces in holy fear. How could they be expected to believe that the God of the universe would become flesh and move into their neighborhood? Enter their messy lives?  And they were messy. The job of shepherd was the entry level job of the time. Often falling to the youngest son in a family who stood no chance of inheritance. They were ritualistically unclean because they lived amongst the mess of the animals. Their word was considered untrustworthy so they could never testify in court. They were on the margins of society. They were largely rejected. Unclean, impure, imperfect cannot bear to stand in the presence of our HOLY GOD. And yet…it was to them that the GOOD NEWS was first announced. Just a few verses early the very first words of the book of John go like this: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” This means that at creation, the Word that was to be one day made flesh was always there. And because the Word was always there…the clock had been ticking for eternity on a plan that was also always there. And it was right here that the always plan was first announced. The clock had been ticking and the time had come. Galatians 4:4-5 puts it this way “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Adopted as children of God…no more a slave to sin…no more condemned by the law….free indeed

And so let us go on with our faith walk with a renewed sense of our freedom. Let the two promises that were given to lowly shepherds be claimed by us today “Be not afraid” and “I am with you.” Amen