"Fear not" when the Messiah comes

The Gospel of Luke introduces the gospel first through the eyes of the people who would be involved in the earliest stages: Zechariah, Mary, and later some shepherds who were nearby when Jesus was born. In each case, God's angel announces "Fear not;" in each case, the angel gives them a reason to hope instead of fear.

"Fear not, Zechariah: your prayer has been heard" (Luke 1:13)
"Fear not, Mary; you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30)
"Fear not, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people" (Luke 2:10)

"Your prayer has been heard." How many years had Zechariah prayed? (Had he stopped praying?) I know the feeling of sadness, grief, and fear when I think a prayer is not heard. The angel told Zechariah not to fear: God was listening.

"You have found favor with God." Have I offended God? Have I disappointed God? Am I too often in need of forgiveness? Lent brings a new covenant, one of forgiveness, a covenant of God's favor and mercy. Think what you will about the legends of Mary's sinlessless; God's favor is not only for the sinless. And so he establishes a covenant of forgiveness.

"I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people." We've got enough bad news. People go out of their way to find bad news, or cast news in a bad light. And good news for one person is often bad news for another. The good wins. Because God is merciful, because God is loving, good wins.

So when Jesus first came in human form, the announcement "Fear not" is good news. We see three times where people are given reason to celebrate because of what God has done, is doing, and will do.