The check engine light is on. It came on right after picking the car up from the mechanic. Sigh. Then the kid driving home from college called to say that the check engine light was on in her car, too. It’s not surprising (we drive old cars) but it is discouraging. This is supposed to be a season of joy, but it sure seems like every time things are looking a little brighter, the world turns right around and says, Actually, no. Don’t get your hopes up.
These things remind me that there’s an enemy intent on stealing our joy at every opportunity. The message is simple – You’re wrong if you think that something good is going to happen in the future. It’s just going to be more of the same, or probably even worse. And the problem is that under a constant barrage of bad news, we either respond by becoming numb, or by becoming weary. Like the townspeople in the story of the boy who cried wolf, eventually we can’t give the same emotional response time and time again. Our hearts can’t take it.
If you’re trying to willpower your way into hope, into a better frame of mind, into a positive outlook, you’re going to get tired pretty quick. Willpower won’t do it. We need some kind of tangible proof that things can change, that it’s not always going to be like this, that it is possible to rise above the dust. And that’s just what we get at Christmas.
Jesus was born into a weary world, to a people tired of bad news, of oppression and occupation and suffering. He still comes to us in our weariness today with a reminder that even when it’s dark, we don’t have to be afraid. Even when it’s dark, there’s still reason to hope. Just read the Christmas account and take a look at the angel’s first words to Zechariah – Do not be afraid (Luke 1:3). To Mary – Don’t be afraid (Luke 1:30). And to Joseph – Don’t be afraid (Matthew 1:20). This is the message of Christmas to each of us – the world is dark and things are confusing, but don’t be afraid.
Why shouldn’t we be afraid? Because Jesus’ birth is the tangible proof that God cares about us. He isn’t content for us to be lost, wandering, lonely, hurting, afraid. His name proclaims “God saves” because He is Immanuel – “God with us”, on our side, in our midst (Matthew 1:21-23). He isn’t our enemy but our Savior, Redeemer, Friend. He isn’t out to destroy us, but to set us free (Luke 4:18-19).
You can understand why the very thought of this filled the angels with uncontainable joy. They told the shepherds, “Don’t be afraid! (there it is again) I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight!” (Luke 2:10-11, comment added). It’s the kind of news that will cause a weary world to rejoice.