All You Want for ChristmasНамуна

The First Noel

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’” - Luke 2:9-12

Think

This birth announcement came to “common folk.” This announcement of the Messiah came not to the elite, not to royalty, but to common folk like you and me. The angel said, “You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Not only did it come to common folk, but it came to them in language they would know and understand.

The shepherds would have understood “strips of cloth” because they used exactly the same strips of clothing to wrap their newborn lambs to keep them safe, secure, and unblemished for future sacrifice. These shepherds were most likely raising sheep that would be sacrificed at the temple for the sins of the people. And now an Angel says, “There is a new sheep in the manger - one that is the Savior of the world.”

Most birth announcements don’t commence with “don’t be afraid” - yet this one does for the shepherds, and I think for us as well. Fear for them, just like us, is a familiar - maybe even everyday feeling - and yet Jesus coming as a baby calms our fears. He comes to us in language we can understand - comes to us on our level and says, “Don’t be afraid, I bring you good news that will bring great joy - the Savior of the world has been born.” He comes to common folk, using common language, addressing the needs of our hearts. There is no greater gift than to no longer fear. This birth announcement not only announces the birth of a child but the death of an enemy - fear.

Apply

What fears do you carry? Can you name them? Jesus came to address those and alleviate them. That is what Christmas is all about. The great gift of Christmas is not a gift under the tree - but the gift that would one day hang on a tree to save us from ourselves and the fear of death. That is what the good news - The First Noel - is all about.

Pray

God, I come to you, even in my fear, with my longings. Please show yourself to me. Calm my fear, fulfill my heart's longings with you and you alone. In the name, life, death, burial, and resurrection of your Son Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Author - E. Scott Feather is married to Jodi and the proud father of two grown children. Scott serves as the Lead Pastor of Gateway Church in Parkesburg, PA.