| Sermon Title: The Message that Banishes Fear
Text: Luke 2:1-4 (King James)
Fear! Fear! Fear! Who is that fortunate person who has not yet
experienced fear in one way or the other? Think of it, fear seems to be
engulfing people s minds all the time. What makes people to fear may be
different but it is fear all the same. For us in Africa it could be fear of
disease, fear of hunger or even fear of not being assured of safe and clean
drinking water. What can I say about fear of another war in this or that
country. It is total fear of whether I can still have life and existence into
the following day.
In the biblical world the appearance of angles was one cause of
fear. To fear God was indeed a way of showing respect. Thus when the angels
appeared to the shepherds, there was reason to fear. And yet this assurance
that there is nothing to fear has been given at numerous occasions as recorded
in the scriptures. Just to mention a few, in Genesis 15:1 the Lord assured
Abram in a vision, Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall
be very great. (RSV) To Gideon the Lord told him in no uncertain terms
that even though he had seen the angel face to face, Gideon would not die.
Peace be to you; do not fear, you shall not die. (Judges 6:23b RSV)
These shepherds had reason to fear. They were not Temple rabbis
who could have the honour and privilege of receiving divine messengers. They
were a people of an insignificant class of that society. It was like they
raised the usual why me type of question. If angels would appear
today with such dramatic presence, most of us will be afraid. Whether angels
appear or not, the truth is most people live in fear. It is this common fear,
the fear of height name it, which I would like to focus on in this sermon. What
do you fear? Why do you fear? Who tells you not to fear? What is that word of
assurance which makes you have a nice and peaceful sleep?
I will never forget the night my wife and I had to search for
those small harmless lizards which are common companions in huts and houses
especially from my observation in Zimbabwe. My wife vowed that she was not
going to sleep in the house until we located the little creature and threw it
out. We searched, or should I say I searched every corner of the house but to
no avail. Fortunately fatigue and the natural demands of the need to sleep took
toll on wife and we both slept. I really had nothing to fear but my wife went
to bed in fear. It could be fear of lizards, and to be honest with you, I do
not know what your sources of fear are? Whatever is the case it is all the same
for you, the cause of fear.
It could be fear of whether a visit to the physician will make you
come out with a clean health balance sheet. What about that side pain which
appears to be aggravated by an ordinary meal? Why is my spouse not cheerful
these days, even on my birthday, you reminiscent. What is going on in his/her
mind? Divorce? Sure such thoughts are cause for fear. As I write this sermon it
is just about three weeks away before my daughter sit for her Cambridge School
Certificate Examinations in October 1999 here in Zimbabwe. Living in a country
where opportunities for higher education are still few, I have all the reason
to fear. I fear for the future of my child if she does not make it. What do you
fear? When I was still an upstart in society I feared that I would not be able
to provide for my family. Now that God has blessed me and may family with the
little we have, I fear that a thief might come at night and steal my Datsun
120Y the make of 1978!
In the midst of such myriad of fear inducing circumstances, is it
not true that we need someone with authority t assure us that there is nothing
to fear? We look around in search of security. Sometimes we get the word of
assurance from national governments, if you still trust them. At times we get
this voice of assurance from the United Nations that there is nothing to fear
because all nations have pledged to life in peace. Or it is close at home and
all that matters is a word of love and concern from a member of the family and
we feel assured. There is nothing to fear. The problem comes when we realise
that these sources of authority in giving assurance can fail, have failed and
will fail. Who then should tell you and me not to fear?
Do not fear I am seeing you, she told me. It was
during summer night in the month of December. December nights can be pitch dark
in Zimbabwe. My mother stood at the door of the hut and sent me to borrow some
salt from an aunt. She knew very well that I had all the reason to fear in a
village in which the roar of a hyene could come from nowhere. But my mother
confidently assured me, Do not fear I am seeing you. Little did I
figure out, until later on in my life, that my mothers eyes could not
penetrate that darkness as ran along the path leading to my aunts place.
Not only that, my mother had another fatal limitation, she was a mortal. As I
write she had since died and I wonder who then can still tell me not fear
because I am seeing you?
Blessed were the shepherds who had the message of assurance from
the angels, the messengers of Got. We must hear the word of comfort from non
other than God himself. God and only him can tell us not fear. If you have been
failed by other sources of assurance, turn to God for an everlasting message.
Got does not fail anyone.
What is that message which makes one not to fear? The shepherds
had nothing to fear not because there were any security forces promised to
them. They had nothing to fear because the angels had brought the good news.
Christmas is about the good news which comes to us in the midst of all that
which cause fear in us. I can imagine the angels coming to some helpless
communities now full of orphaned children of parents who died from AIDS-related
illnesses, with the same message saying Fear not. Yes to those of
us whose routine is to attend one funeral after another because of the AIDS
pandemic, the message is the same as received that night by the shepherds,
Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy which
will come to all the people… If the shepherds were overwhelmed with
fear, today our reaction could be one of disbelief. How can we not fear when
demographic indicators for 2010 predict life expectancy for Zimbabwe at 38.8?
And this prediction is not far worse when compared to other countries in
southern Africa. And yet we are assured Do not fear. Why God? Why
should we not fear? Because a Saviour has been born to us!
Now the issue of a Saviour is worth focusing on. The world has
seen people who have done great deeds in the name of saving humanity. Some have
even coined some slogans which encapsulate how solutions to human problems
could be hammered out. Some have taken up arms to fight for freedom promising
that when they themselves take up the reigns of power Justice will flow
like water to use the words of the Lord through the prophet Amos. In
Africa as in other parts of the world, we have men and women who have appeared
among their people as good news. But as mortals they failed, are failing, will
fail. Jesus Christ is the Saviour who does not fail. He is the only one who can
banish fear from the face of the earth. Listen to Him. In Christmas we
celebrate the birth of the Christ, a Saviour who is not for the spur of the
moment. The Saviour is the same who said to the disciples Let not your
hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. (St John 14:1
RSV)
In Jesus Christ we have nothing to fear. As in the words of the
Reggae singer, Bob Marley No woman, No Cry, Everything is gonna be
alright. The good news dispels fear because the message comes from God
and not from mortals. The Message banishes fear because it is about the birth
of a Saviour for all times and for all people. it is a message which banishes
fear because the message is about Gods love and care for humanity. In the
words of the United Methodist Church Hymn the message is about how Got
will take Care of You. This is the message to the shepherds, this is the
same message to you and me. Why should we fear in the presence of God among us?
With the angels and the shepherds let us rise from tending
whatever it is and march on to see with our own eyes. Let us stand and join in
the praises. let us continue, and I invite you to continue getting on top of
mountains and tell others about the birth of the Saviour. Sing! Sing! Joy
to the world the Lord Has come. The One who banishes fear has come. AMEN.
Rev. Dr. Eben K. Nhiwatiwa, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. |
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