His Gospel Is Peace: No Fear of Frailty

The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Eve

December 24, 2024

Isaiah 9:6-7

 “His Gospel Is Peace: No Fear of Frailty”

No matter our age in life, no one wants to be seen or perceived as being frail. We strive to be self-sufficient and capable of taking care of ourselves. We are more than willing to give assistance to those who need our help. We’re happy to be the givers, but what’s it like to be the receivers? What’s it like to know that your own frailty is noticed by others? Whether you want them to or not, people are ready to step in and offer help? In each of our lives, there are people who are frail, but maybe it hits closer to home than that. Maybe we ourselves are the ones who are frail. Of course, we rebel against being categorized this way, whether it’s due to illness, disability, age, or a host of other things in life. Frailty is real, even when we’d rather not think about it. Behind all of the beautiful decorations, the lighted tree, the soft candlelight of this holiday, Christmas is, in fact, about frailty. It is about a helpless Infant born in poverty, and that’s about as frail as you can get. A newborn child can do nothing for themselves; they have to be taken care of 24/7 or they won’t survive. In the frailty of this helpless Infant, this Christ Child, our fear and frailty are overcome. In this Christ Child, “God entered into our world not with the crushing impact of unbearable glory, but in the way of weakness, vulnerability and need” (“Shipwrecked at the Stable,” by Brendan Manning, in Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas. Maryknoll, NY: Plough Publishing, 2001; p. 187). Jesus was born to bring us good news of great joy, and peace that passes all understanding. Because his Gospel is peace, our fear of frailty gives way to a new way of living. Based on the Old Testament lesson from the prophet Isaiah, the theme for this message is entitled “No Fear of Frailty.” May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

During the Advent season, the four weeks that precede Christmas, we have focused on how Jesus’ Gospel is peace for our lives, addressing different fears that we face in life: fear of the future, fear of failure, fear of not having enough in life – famine. Future, failure, famine – and now frailty. The words of the prophet Isaiah, spoken some 750 years before the birth of Jesus, look forward not just to his birth, but to his coming again. What Jesus began with his first coming that we celebrate at Christmas will be brought to glorious fulfillment at his second coming. The frailty of Jesus’ birth, his life, his suffering and death upon the cross – all of these will give way to a new creation when he comes again. In that new creation, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:7). The frailty of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry masked his true identity as the eternal Son of God through which he gives eternal peace, justice and righteousness. And who doesn’t long for these gifts now, living as we do in a world filled with strife, injustice and unrighteousness? This whole plan of God’s is unfolding even now, whether we realize it or not. What began there in Bethlehem’s manger will come to magnificent completion when the “little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay” is revealed as the King and Judge of all creation.

The good news is that this King and Judge loves each one of us with a love so deep, so broad, so high that he willingly entered our world of fear and frailty. He became one of us for love’s sake so that he might restore to us the joy of his salvation (Psalm 51:12). The eternal God assumed our own human nature with all of its limitations, shortcomings, and failures in the Person of Jesus Christ. This little Child, born in Bethlehem’s manger, was born to live, die, and rise again for us in order to deliver us from fear and frailty; from the power sin and death. This work of Jesus is undeserved and unearned. We cannot buy it with money. Nor do we merit it through good behavior or good works. It comes to us simply as a gift that can only be received through faith, apart from anything we might do. All of this runs counter to our expectation where you don’t get something for nothing in this world. We’re often told, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” And although that is often true, here is the one exception to that rule. Here is the one thing too good not to be true: the love of God for each one of us revealed in the Babe of Bethlehem.

The truth is that despite our best intentions, despite our careful planning, despite all the ways we come up with to circumvent the frailty of life, it still happens. There is the accident that changes everything; the unexpected illness that rewrites our future; the financial loss that brings uncertainty and insecurity; the consuming grief that feels like a black hole. Suddenly, we know what it’s like to be frail and vulnerable. No one asks for this, and in truth, no one wants this. We may find ourselves frustrated, angry, and resentful about our situation. We look at others and think, “Why me?” We may rail against God because none of this makes any sense, and we need someone to blame; someone to be the scapegoat. Where do we turn? What do we do? Hear again the Word from God to each one of us:

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
    on them has light shone…

For unto us a child is born,
    unto us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2, 6).

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people. 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).

Not a politician who makes promises but doesn’t keep them. Not a superhero who exists only in the movies. Not a social activist who lobbies for social change but cannot change hearts and minds. God did not send us any of these things, but He did send a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. A Savior is one who saves, and that is what Jesus came to do, as the angel revealed to Joseph: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus came to save us from the frailty and futility of life apart of God. By his humble birth in Bethlehem’s manger, by his full obedience to the Father’s will, by the offering of his life on the cross as payment for all our sins, by his glorious resurrection from the dead – we have been saved and set free.

We who fear and obsess over many things in this life need have no fear about this: we are loved by God more than we can possibly imagine. Our frailty is swallowed up in the enormity of God’s amazing grace that makes all things new in the Christ Child.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). Amen.