The Four “Fear Nots” of the Christmas Story

I am not one to read a book repeatedly, even if it was really good, because the fact that I know how it is going to end ruins the suspense of turning the page. Maybe you enjoy the familiarity of an excellent story and return to it and collect new pieces of information with each reading.

​Of course, God’s Word is so different from the stacks of books on my shelves in my home. It is the story that recounts His story and how His story intersects and changes my story and yours! It is the one book that I never tire of reading because it is God’s Word! Even with the fathomless truth of God’s Word, there are times when my heart and mind wander, and I struggle to see those truths. Of course, that is no fault of God’s Word, but instead of my own heart, which can quickly be remedied by drawing nigh to God and asking His Holy Spirit to speak to my heart from His Word.

And I have found that He never fails to answer that prayer for me. I’m sure a time or two of the cooling familiarity of the Christmas story has even crept into my heart as I get busy with the celebrations of the holidays and miss the whole point of why we celebrate Christmas. Could I encourage you in this short post to ask the Lord to give you fresh eyes to the very familiar story of Christ’s birth and how it might apply to you? I want to look at four times in the account of Christ’s birth when those involved were told to “fear not.”[1] I know how easy it is for our hearts to become fearful even at this time of year. May these thoughts help sharpen our focus on the miracle of Christ’s incarnation and draw us closer to Christ because of them!

1. The “Fear Not” of the Unforeseen – Luke 1:11-13
   The first “fear not” of the Christmas story comes from the angel of the Lord to Zacharias regarding the unforeseen pregnancy of his wife Elisabeth in their old age. Barrenness was a struggle that Elisabeth and Zacharias had carried for their whole married lives. Yet they had remained faithful to serve the Lord all these years. This struggle wasn’t something they could hide since they had no children after many years of marriage. But they did not turn from the Lord because of it. It was while Zacharias was faithfully serving the Lord that he was shocked at the appearance of the angel of the Lord and thus admonished to “fear not.” I believe the admonition was for the moment to dispel his fear, but it was also for the future. The message the angel brought was indeed unforeseen. We know the story – Zacharias doubted, but he later returned to the Lord in obedience and named his son John. This John the Baptist would not be a son to follow in Zacharias’ vocation, but he would prepare the way for the Messiah to come. Although Zacharias and Elisabeth could never have predicted the result of this unforeseen message, I can imagine that they counted their lives blessed to have been used by God in this way. What unforeseen thing is in your path? Will you trust God and choose to “fear not” as you obey what God is leading you to do?
   
   
2. The “Fear Not” of the Unbelievable – Luke 1:26-33
   The next “fear not” to consider is found later in Luke 1 when Gabriel appears to Mary. I find it interesting that the Bible does not say that Mary was troubled because of the angel’s appearance, but rather because of the message he brought. Of course, when we consider that message, it was rather troubling. This young lady was just a normal girl waiting to marry the one to whom she had been engaged. She was just waiting for Joseph to come redeem her as his bride. This sudden greeting by the angel, pointing to her being “highly favored” and “blessed” among women, brought fear and uncertainty to her heart. This is the point at which Gabriel encourages her not to fear! We know that the unbelievable aspect of this message is still to come! She would need the “fear not!” The miracle of the virgin birth is still an aspect of the Christmas story that can be perplexing. There are even those who deny its validity, but there is no denying the clarity of the message Gabriel spoke to Mary. Although the message is clearly laid out, it is still most definitely an unbelievable message – a child would be born to a woman who had never been with a man! But He was not just a child. He is Jesus, the Son of God! He is the Messiah! The names and description that Gabriel used in his unbelievable message would have rung true in Mary’s heart. She knew there was a Messiah they waited for. Every woman since Eve had hoped that God would use her to bring about this miracle. But God chose Mary, an unknown and normal young lady, to send His unbelievable message, accompanied by a well-deserved “fear not.” What is it that you are facing today that seems unbelievable? What is God asking of you that seems beyond your ability? He invites you to “fear not” and trust Him to empower you for those things. And He wonderfully promises to walk beside you as you trust Him and obey!
   
   
3. The “Fear Not” of the Unexpected – Matthew 1:18-25
   If Mary’s “fear not” dealt with the unbelievable, Joseph’s definitely finds its place in the unexpected! Joseph was the other side of the normal relationship in this espousal. He was waiting for the day when he could take Mary to be his wife. He was keeping himself for the marriage just as he expected her to do. Then the horrible, unexpected pregnancy is made known to him. His bride-to-be has been unfaithful, so he believes. There is a whole study in Joseph’s response to this situation. He could have righteously put Mary to shame! But there must have been some major integrity in the heart of Joseph as he pondered how to break the espousal without hurting Mary. This is when the angel of the Lord speaks to him in a dream and assures him with a bold “fear not.” The angel assures him of his wife’s faithfulness and, beyond that, of the Lord’s choosing her to bear God’s Son. He doesn’t need to fear the unexpected because every part of this plan was orchestrated by God. With that assurance, we see Joseph’s faith to stand beside Mary and even delay their own marriage consummation until the time that Christ was born. I believe that Joseph’s “fear not” rang true in his heart and mind for years to come. What unexpected event has turned your world upside down? What is your response to that? Do you hear the “fear not” of the unexpected? Nothing that comes our way is out of the hand of our sovereign God! He can be trusted even amid the unexpected. 
   ​
4. The “Fear Not” of the Unusual – Luke 2:8-14
   Do you ever find yourself stuck in the routine of everyday life? It just seems to go in a never-ending cycle of monotony until something, someone, or some event breaks that cycle! I have stood near the hillsides outside Bethlehem in Israel and read this passage. There are no lights even today on those hillsides. Of course, on this day, there would have been only the blackness of night for the shepherds to settle into their normal routine as they watched the sheep that night. Then, suddenly, the usual was exchanged for an amazing, unusual one that shocked them to their very core! The passage says they were “sore afraid.” I can only imagine how fearful those shepherds were for their own lives and for their livelihood, not knowing what was going on that night. The angel of the Lord addressed their fear first as he spoke out the last “fear not” of the Christmas story, and then announced the birth of the Savior of the world. By the time the heavenly hosts joined in what may have been the first “Hallelujah Chorus,” the shepherds' fear seems to melt and even burn within them. Their response to this highly unusual situation was to obey the instructions they were given to go find the Christ child and worship Him. The Lord then used these shepherds as His first missionaries to “Go Tell It on the Mountains” that the Messiah had been born. I’m so thankful they didn’t run from the unusual. They embraced the “fear not” and allowed God to use them mightily at Jesus’ birth. What unusual situation are you dealing with? What unusual instructions has God given you? Will you hear the “fear not” of the unusual and respond like the shepherds? With the Lord’s help, I believe it will help you to find your way to worship and praise of the One who walks with you through the unusual!

I hope your vision of the Christmas story has been brought into better focus a bit today. All these people had many reasons to fear! Yet they are among the many in Scripture who God admonishes to “fear not.” He gives each of us the same admonition! Fear Not! He has a task for each of us today. Will you embrace the “fear not” and go forward for the Lord even amidst the unforeseen, the unbelievable, the unexpected, and the unusual?

Which “fear not” do you most need to believe today—the unforeseen, the unbelievable, the unexpected, or the unusual—and how might trusting God there draw you closer to Christ?

[1] These four points were taken from the sermon outline preached by my dad, Pastor James Baker,
​at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA, on December 21, 2022.