“Do not be afraid.”
It is what angels say all the time.
A guy in a bible study once mentioned that he has read that angelic greeting so many times that it comes across like a simple figure of speech, much like, “How are you doing?” No one really wants to know how you are actually doing. No one wants to hear about your bunion…really no one does. He said, “Do not be afraid” sounds just as insignificant as "How are you doing?" when you do not take the time to read the Bible closely.
To his surprise, when he took the time to read this story about Mary and the angel closely, he found that the phrase is anything but insignificant.
He had never thought about Mary’s situation before. He had never thought about a young girl suddenly encountering the supernatural. He had never thought about the actual fear that probably penetrated the dark that night.
Imagine, a girl of about 13 or 14 settling down on her straw-filled bed in the complete darkness of the ancient night world. Remember, in this ancient world there were no street lights nor were there nightlights plugged into walls.
The night is not safe. The night is full of robbers and wild animals. The night is a place of spirits and demons. The night is a place of fear.
That night, piercing the dark suddenly, is a man seen standing against the dim starlight in her small, dark bedroom.
Alright, admittedly the Bible does not say that the angel came to Mary at night. It could have happened in full daylight for all we know. That said, just stick with me here, in the darkness, because there is much more to fear than the dark.
The angel says out of the darkness, “Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you.” “Favored one;” what a strange thing to say to someone who really is not anyone. After-all, Mary is not a princess. Mary has no political or religious influence in her society. She does not have the wisdom of the years needed to influence the men of power from behind the scenes.
Mary is just a young, inexperienced, engaged girl…in the dark…not favored by anyone except maybe Joseph. She is a poor nobody. Mary sat on her bed perplexed, knees snug up against her chest protectively, listening to the man’s words.
The words, “Do not be afraid,” float from across the dark room, originating from the strange man.
As I mentioned before, the setting is not the only thing that is scary here. I actually think that the angel was trying to make sure that Mary did not run in fear of the message he was about to deliver.
The voice from the dark continues, “You have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Have you ever suddenly realized that your entire world was about to change? Have you ever been in a situation where you were quite certain that your life would never be the same?
“Your position in the company is being moved overseas to Germany. I hope that you have an English-German dictionary,” the boss mentions standing at your door.
“I don’t want to be with you any longer,” the spouse says to the shocked other.
“Happy day graduates! I hope you have a plan for the future already,” the principal says during the graduation ceremony.
“I’m sorry, but she is dead,” comes from the mouth of the police officer at the door.
“You are going to be a father,” she says to her shocked boyfriend.
All of these are examples of the very moment that your old world dies and a new world begins, whether you are ready or not. Much of the time we are not ready. We are certainly not ready for the tragedies of life that take loved ones from us, or announce terminal illnesses.
Nor, are many of us even ready for the seemingly happy events of life, like finding out for the first time that you will be a parent, or finding out that you were excepted into a prestigious, yet academically challenging school.
With her shocking news sinking in, Mary questions this new, uncertain vision for her life that will bring about the death of her old life. After-all, young virgins just do not find out that they are pregnant. The lowly just are not chosen for greatness. How do you even raise a king correctly? What if you raise a brat? What if you accidentally drop a divine child on his head? The stakes are awfully high in this heavenly game.
Mary’s world is changing this very instant, and, as you probably already know, fear flourishes in times of change.
“Do not fear” the angel says to Mary.
Has saying, “Don’t be afraid” has ever worked for you? Imagine, the plane’s engine stops in mid-flight and the steward says, “Don’t be afraid, it happens all the time.” I have to admit that just does not quite do it for me…I don’t know about you.
But, the angel has more for Mary than just “Do not fear.” He continues with something even better: “You have found favor with God.”
And, that right there is the sweet music of grace. “You have found favor with God.”
It says, “No matter what, God is on your side, because God has found something of worth in you.”
It says, “No matter the fear or the hurdles you are about to face, God knows that you are the right one for this time and this place.”
It says, “It doesn’t matter if you think you are the right one, God knows you are the right one.”
And, it says, “God is with you through it all.” “You have found favor with God.”
It is true, you are the right one for this time and this place. God did not make a mistake in choosing you for where you are in your life. You have found favor with God. God considered everyone else and thought, "No, I have found the right one. It is you."
Mary believes the promise.
Though she is from the middle of nowhere; though she is no princess of even a duchess; and though she is just a young teen, she believes the promise and sets her sights on her new future.
That is how great the promise of God is. It allows Mary to look upon her uncertain, new life and respond, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."
Here we are Lord. We do not know what you were thinking in choosing us. We do not know what the future holds. If we are honest with ourselves, no amount of “Do not be afraid” is going to comfort us. Yet, you think we are the right ones for the task right here and right now. So, I guess, if you think so Lord, here we are. We are your servants. Lead the way Lord. Lead the way.
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