Fear Not (detail), collection: Mrs. Arthur S. DeMoss
You’ve noticed by now that these posts are coming more frequently than usual. It’s to get all the first Christmas characters in before the date. We’ll go back to normal after that.
A Christmas creche would not be complete without angels. One could wonder what they think of how we represent them. But then again, they do keep themselves pretty mysterious . . . ducking in and out of human sensory dimension. Biblically, sometimes they appear as men (never as women, by the way, or chubby babies), other times as these radiant beings.
On the night of Jesus’ birth they stepped out of the sky and said, “Fear not” . . . always the opening greeting when they show up like this. It was a host beyond number and must have looked like the spawning grounds of fireflies . . . but large, glowing and pulsating. And they were bursting forth with what they could hardly contain, trying to wake us to the import of it all.
Funny, my ears went up when NPR announced they’ll be doing a series to get back to “the real meaning of Christmas.” They’re calling it “Tinsel Tales.” Wonder what the angels would make of that.
Angels, messengers of God, sometimes warriors, keep themselves out of sight but for exceptional moments. This was THE exceptional moment, the birth announcement of all time, the “good news of great joy for all people.”
That is the Christmas message.
They gave God highest glory and added, “Peace on earth.”
(Note that they said it, not sang it; probably because Handel or Bach hadn’t been born yet.)
But there’s been some question about this angelic peace remark. Where is it?
The question is even in one of our carols. In I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Longfellow lyriced:
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
The next stanza returns to faith, but times were hard and he had his reasons to doubt.
Just like these days. Where’s world peace?
Unless it’s the peace Jesus talked about . . . internal peace . . . “not as the world gives.”
It’s the best Christmas gift there is.
And I thank the angels for passing it on.
P.S. I’ve never painted a “nativity scene” but once, and that was ten years ago. I called it “Fear Not.” Here it is.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
11:04 am
You’re paining it dramatic and powerful – just like the message the angels proclaimed. While I’ve never seen an angel, I have heard their message in life’s scary moments. Yesterday I heard a mother from Sandy Hook School say that she pictured all the lost children and their teachers in heaven hand-in-hand with the Christmas angels going to see Jesus. The scene is comforting because the world is a scarier place when we can’t keep our precious children safe. Thanks for the reminder that Jesus’ peace is not of this world . . . and that’s why it offers “Great Joy to All People”!
12:49 pm
Love the message … and love your painting!
Peace truly is the most amazing gift. There is such a spirit of anxiety permeating all of the world, it is this dark cloud hanging over all. The gift of Christ and His amazing peace and love is solace and joy for the soul.
4:21 pm
Love your Christmas messages and pictures to go with it – like these shepherds afraid yet following – which we need to do…
9:20 pm
George Frederick Handel, “The Messiah,” an uninterrupted two hours, script/lyrics in hand, surround-sound. When the choruses break, that’s the heavenly choir of angels, to me. There’s really nothing that compares. Great way to take in the Christmas story, you simply cannot miss experiencing a taste of heaven.
8:54 am
Thanks so much for all your extra effort to bless us all this Christmas, Hyatt. Your painting is amazing–just like I would picture the shepherds–knocked off their feet by the awe, majesty and terror of seeing the angels!! You breathe life into your canvases!!
9:20 am
I love this painting and would love Christmas cards with this cover! “Fear not!”
Merry Christmas!
9:16 pm
Sooo glad you let your current readers see this magnificent piece of art/Christmas! I just blogged it for my readers tomo so they can take a peek (and fall on their knees or off their feet for the fearful wonder of it all!) Merry Christmas dear oldest brother! s.