Luke 2:8-14
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
Some among us tonight watched (and some participated in) the youth Christmas program, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” a week ago Sunday. It is a beautiful Christmas story with a message I’ve never thought needed an explanation. That being said, someone recently clued me into a fascinating detail in the story that I had missed even after having watched the show dozens of times. This subtle detail transforms the show from a heartwarming entertaining story into something even more theologically and practically powerful.
Recall the scene where Charlie Brown returns to the rehearsal after picking a sickly-looking Christmas tree. He’s laughed at, and out of desperation he cries out for someone to teach him the true meaning of Christmas–something more than decoration contests or lists of desired presents. That’s when Linus, the sweet boy who always has his blue blanket clutched tightly to comfort him, tells the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds from the second chapter of Luke. It’s beautiful how Linus is able to pull attention back to scripture; but even more remarkable is what he does while he tells the story -- something that shows how scripture can transform us. Watch him closely and see if you catch what happens.
Did you catch it? What did Linus do? He dropped the blanket as he said “fear not.”
Legend has it that Charles Schultz, the creator and artist of the Peanuts comics and TV shows, demanded this scene be included in the final production or he would not authorize its release. Curiously, he didn’t have Linus recite parts of the Christmas story one would expect. Such as those verses about Mary being a virgin, there being “no room in the inn,” nor the part where the baby Jesus is born and placed in a manger. For Schultz, Christmas is all about the shepherds receiving the angels’ good news of the Savior’s birth and having their fear replaced with joy and peace.
So let’s take the opportunity this Christmas Eve to think about how Jesus’ birth is an invitation to “fear not” and to drop our own security blankets.
Fear is a constant companion in life. For some of us, fear lurks in the shadows so we can never quite make it out or describe it–it’s like a low-grade fever that keeps us from operating at 100%. In other cases, fear is clearly defined. We know exactly what we’re afraid of; however, just being able to name and describe it does not relinquish its power over us. Some of our fears are perfectly reasonable; others are irrational. As for me, I have an irrational fear of sharks and alligators, which is why I live in Indiana.
To be clear, fear serves an important function in our lives. Fear keeps us safe and helps us avoid making decisions that would have negative consequences; however, the perspective our fear brings should always be held in check or else it can paralyze us and keep us from chasing our dreams and experiencing joy. Author Elizabeth Gilbert writes beautifully about the proper role for fear in our lives. In her book about creativity titled Big Magic she writes a letter to fear, which I will share with you.
“Fear: I recognize and respect that you are a part of this family, and so I will never exclude you from our activities, but still–your suggestions will NEVER be followed. You’re allowed to have a voice, but you are not allowed to have a vote. You’re not allowed to touch the road maps; you’re not allowed to suggest detours; you’re not allowed to fiddle with the temperature. Dude, you’re not even allowed to touch the radio. But, above all else, my dear old familiar friend. You are absolutely FORBIDDEN to drive.”
The angelic announcement, “Do not be afraid” is an invitation to kick fear out of the driver’s seat, to reassert control of our lives, and to allow peace and joy to fill in the space that fear previously occupied. However, just telling someone to not be afraid does not do anything to make fear go away. I have been informed, and I intellectually understand, that I will not be attacked by a shark or alligator. Knowing something intellectually is not the same as knowing it in one’s heart or gut. The angels do not communicate merely an intellectual truth, rather they communicate something that is fundamentally true–a truth that changes everything.
Confronting fear means making tough decisions to be brave and vulnerable, to take risks, and to believe in something that stretches the limits of our intellect and emotions. As God’s angelic messengers remind us, our efforts to confront fear can result in good news, glory to God, great joy for all people, and peace on earth.
One of the beautiful parts of tonight’s service is after we light our candles and sing “Silent Night,” we will hear the gospel story of what happens after the shepherds are instructed not to fear.
I’ll go ahead and spoil the rest of the story for you. Those emboldened shepherds go and see the truth for themselves. And once they see Jesus they glorify and praise God, which is exactly how the angels were described in the earlier verses. The shepherds have been entrusted to go and share the good news of great joy; and as they go and share the good news of great joy to the world they become God’s angelic messengers.
Removing fear from the driver’s seat, dropping our security blankets, being filled with peace and joy, praising God, embodying the good news for the sake of the world, letting heaven and nature sing …that’s what Christmas is all about.
So may you have an encounter with God’s word that gives you to courage to put your fear in its proper place. May you be led into peace and joy as you live into God’s good news and share that news with others. And may you become one of the multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace for all people.”
Merry Christmas.
