Don't be afraid!

nearly every time an angel appears in the Bible the first words he says are Don't be afraid! Little wonder. When the supernatural makes contact with planet Earth it usually leaves a human observers flat on their faces and fear. But Luke tells of God making an appearance in a form that doesn't frighten. In Jesus born with the animals and laid it in a feeding trough God takes a nap wrote that we need not fear. What could be less scary than a newborn baby? On Earth Jesus is both God and man. As God he can work miracles forgive sins conquered death and predict the future but for Jews accustomed to images of God is bright cloud or pillar of fire Jesus also cause as much confusion. how could a baby in Bethlehem a carpenter's son a Man from Nazareth be the Messiah from God? Why does God take on human form? The scene of 12 year old Jesus debating rabbis in the temple gives one clue. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers Luke tells us. For the first time ordinary people could hold a conversation with god and visible form. Jesus can talk to anyone his parents a rabbi a poor widow without having to announce Don't be afraid! In Jesus God draws near. Heavenly Father we pause at Christmas to remember how your son came to us in the form of a helpless baby and we worship in amazement and wonder that God came near to us. Jesus was God and man in one person that God and man might be happy together again.