Do Not Be Afraid: Emmanuel in Your Mess

Devotional

Day 1: God reveals Jesus' glory to reassure fearful disciples.

The mountain scene shows that when God exposes who Jesus truly is, human fear and failure are met by revelation, not rejection. Even ordinary, broken followers are invited up to see Jesus in his glory so their trembling can be replaced with trust in who he is and what he will do. That revelation doesn't leave them the same; it points them to the cross and the promise that God is at work even through failure. [46:56]

Matthew 17:1-9 (ESV)
After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

Reflection: When you feel overwhelmed by your smallness before God, what single truth about Jesus' identity can you memorize and speak to yourself this week to steady your heart when fear rises?

Day 2: Approach God's throne boldly for mercy and help.

God invites the weary and failing to draw near with confidence, not to receive condemnation but mercy and grace in the moment of need. This is not a call to hide failures but to bring them into the presence of a Savior who offers help, healing, and renewed strength. The throne of grace is the place where fear gives way to mercy and courage for the next step. [58:46]

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Reflection: Name one pressing need or shame you carry right now; will you set aside a specific time and place this week to bring it before God's throne of grace, and what will you say when you do?

Day 3: Acknowledging sin opens the way to forgiveness.

Confession is not a ritual of defeat but the honest work that exposes sin so forgiveness can be given and fear of God can become reverent trust. When sin is named, the way is opened to receive God's forgiveness and to be guided back into peace and trust. The liturgical words remind that if God marked every sin we could not stand, but in mercy forgiveness is found. [01:00:22]

Psalm 130:3-4 (ESV)
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

Reflection: What is one specific habit, word, or action you will bring to confession this week, and who will you ask to hold you accountable after you have confessed it?

Day 4: Jesus comes into our mess to touch us.

The God who is glorious does not remain distant; he stoops into the muck and mire of human life to touch, lift, and say "do not be afraid." That touch changes the disciples' terror into life, showing that divine power and tender presence go together. Christmas proclaims Emmanuel — God with us — who enters suffering and heals through his wounds. [53:26]

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV)
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Reflection: Who in your life is living in muck and mire right now (name a person or situation), and what is one concrete, compassionate step you will take this week to "get down" with them and point them to Jesus' touch?

Day 5: Called to carry Christ's name despite failures.

Followers are given Jesus' name to carry into a broken world, not because of their perfection but because of his mercy working through imperfect hands. Failure does not disqualify one from mission; rather, failures often return the heart to the cross and make witness more genuine. Christians are sent to bring good news into messy lives, trusting that Jesus goes with them even when they stumble. [56:21]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: What is one specific, bold step you will take this week to share Jesus' name with someone despite fear of failure — name the person, the exact words or gesture you'll use, and when you'll do it?

Sermon Summary

I shared how my family chases the “perfect” Christmas photo at the end of our Camp Arcadia vacation—tears-in-the-eyes pain (literally, after a knee injury), goofy kid antics, sarcasm, and fatigue all hidden behind a smile. That picture becomes a mirror for what many of us secretly want this season: flawless décor, picture-perfect moments, joyful meals, and no relational blowups. But the weight of perfection breeds fear and anxiety because our track record tells us we eventually fall short. Some of us carry deeper dread: looming loss, loneliness, depression, or the uncertainty of who will make it home.

Up the mountain with Jesus, Peter, James, and John meet the same fear with higher stakes. Glory explodes—Jesus shines, Moses and Elijah appear, the Father speaks—and the disciples collapse, certain that failure in God’s presence means death. The law is a mirror; it shows us where we’ve missed the mark and why we want to hide. But then Jesus steps down, touches the terrified, and says, “Rise, and have no fear.” The One greater than Moses and Elijah is also the One who kneels in the dust with us.

That is the heart of Christmas. Not our perfect trees or flawless meals, but Emmanuel—God with us in our mess. He doesn’t just enter our world; He takes our failure to the cross, and the empty tomb announces it didn’t have the last word. So when perfectionism spikes our anxiety, Jesus redirects our eyes: not to our performance, but to His faithful presence and finished work. In His hands, even failure becomes a friend—because it keeps sending us back to the cross, back to grace, back to Him.

And He entrusts us with His name. I’ve regretted many things, but I’ve never looked back and thought, “I was too bold for Jesus that day.” We get to carry His compassion to people standing in ugly snow, fractured families, financial strain, dark diagnoses, and lonely rooms. He meets them through our touch, our prayers, our courage. Don’t be afraid. He is with us.

Key Takeaways

1. Perfectionism breeds fear; grace frees presence. The more we try to engineer a flawless season, the more our souls tighten with anxiety. Grace breaks the cycle by naming the truth: we won’t make it perfect, and we don’t have to. The peace we long for isn’t produced by control; it’s received by trust. Fear loosens when we trade performance for Presence. [45:25]
2. Glory meets tenderness on the mountain. The disciples expected judgment in God’s blazing holiness; instead, Jesus stooped and touched them. Divine majesty did not keep its distance; it moved toward trembling people. Courage didn’t come from their strength, but from His nearness. Holiness that kneels becomes hope that steadies. [52:01]
3. Failure becomes a doorway to Jesus. The law shows us where we fall short, not to crush us, but to send us to the cross. In Christ, failure is no longer a final verdict; it’s a summons back to mercy. We learn dependence, humility, and a deeper joy that self-reliance could never deliver. Grace turns regret into return. [57:25]
4. Boldness grows when love goes first. Jesus not only forgives; He sends. Boldness isn’t bravado—it’s love that refuses to be silent in the face of pain. I’ve never regretted stepping out to bear His name, even awkwardly. Love leads, and courage follows in its wake. [55:49]
5. Emmanuel meets us in our muck. God-with-us isn’t a slogan; it’s a movement toward our real, unedited lives. He doesn’t demand a tidy room to enter—He makes sacred space out of the mess by His presence. That’s why the pressure to perfect can fall away. The Gift is Him, here, now. [54:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Matthew 17:1–9
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Observation questions

What do Peter, James, and John actually see on the mountain (who appears, and what changes in Jesus)? How does the passage describe their immediate physical and emotional reaction?
The Father says, “This is my beloved Son…listen to him.” What two things does the Father do in this verse, and what do they demand from the listeners in the scene? ([49:34])
After the disciples fall in terror, what does Jesus do and say to them? How does that action alter the meaning of the vision? ([52:01])
In verse 9 Jesus tells them to keep the vision quiet until after the resurrection. What might be the purpose of delaying public telling until the Son of Man is raised from the dead?

Interpretation questions

What does it signify theologically that the one who displays supreme glory is also the one who comes down and touches the frightened disciples? How does that shape the understanding of God’s holiness and tenderness? ([53:03])
The law is described in the sermon as a “mirror” that exposes failure. How does the transfiguration scene (and the Father’s voice) function as both revelation and judgment, and why does that lead the disciples to terror? ([51:15])
Why does the Father command “listen to him” in the context of Moses and Elijah appearing? How should that instruction affect priorities between the old covenant witness and the person and work of Jesus? ([49:34])
The sermon says failure for Christians becomes a summons back to the cross rather than a final verdict. How does the transfiguration (glory + touch + cross) help explain that redefinition of failure? ([57:25])

Application questions

The pursuit of a “perfect” season often tightens the heart with anxiety; grace frees presence. Where are you trying to manufacture perfection this season (home, family roles, social image), and what is one specific habit you can change this week to receive God’s presence instead of performing for it? ([45:25])
Jesus stoops into fear—he physically goes down into the disciples’ muck to touch them. Who in your life needs that kind of gospel touch this week, and what is one concrete step you will take to go to them (call, visit, bring a meal, pray with them)? ([52:01])
Failure can be a doorway back to the cross. Name a recurring failure or pattern you feel shame about. What practical next step will you take toward the cross when that failure reappears (confession to a friend, meeting with a pastor, daily confession and Scripture, accountability plan)? Be specific. ([57:25])
Boldness is grown by love going first. Identify one person or situation where loving action would require courage from you. What small, timed action will you commit to in the next 48 hours to carry Christ’s name to them (text, prayer, invitation, offer of help)? ([55:49])
Emmanuel meets us in the muck; God does not wait for tidy lives. What expectation about this season can you release so that God’s presence, not a perfect outcome, becomes the aim of your celebrations? Name one thing to let go of and one thing to replace it with (e.g., fewer decorations + one evening of focused presence with family). ([54:16])
The community offers prayer and help when the mess is heavy. Are there specific needs you should bring to others for prayer or practical support? Who will you ask for that help, and when will you do it (this service, today, this week)? ([59:31])

Sermon Clips

And I would imagine in that moment, you know when people say, my whole laugh flashed before my eyes? I would think when you're in the presence of God and He is speaking and you just messed up and you're on your face and you just realize Jesus is God, right there you're thinking, oh, I'm dead. Dead for sure. Why? Because I have lusted and I have lied and I've cheated. Even today I did it. And Peter's going, I couldn't shut my big mouth. They know fear. They know that failure and they are expecting the hammer to come right then. [00:51:30] (39 seconds) #NoCondemnationInHisPresence

In that moment of their deepest fear, of their deepest pain, Jesus comes to them. I picture that as in a movie where you're in that massive scene where the war is going on and it's so bright and powerful and all of a sudden it gets silence. Moses and Elijah are gone. The disciples are on their faces on the mountain and it says Jesus came and He told them don't be afraid. But before He tells them don't be afraid, what does He do? He touches them. [00:52:26] (32 seconds) #JesusTouchesDontFear

So what do the disciples learn on the Mount of Transfiguration? What do they learn there? I think they learn two things. This Jesus is not just a man who's coming to be an earthly king. What I am looking at is God made man. This is who He is. He is almighty, all-powerful, the one by whom all things are made. He is eternal. They saw it there in the moment. He is greater than Moses and Elijah. [00:53:26] (27 seconds) #GodMadeMan

``This is our God. This is who He is. And this is what in this season where we're trying to make it perfect and always failing, Jesus is telling us, no, it's not about how pretty you make it. It's not about how nice your tree is. It's not about having the perfect meal or the perfect conversation or everyone being super happy. It's about me loving you enough to come and be Emmanuel, God with us. [00:54:12] (31 seconds) #EmmanuelWithUs

Christmas says, I come into the muck and mire of your life, and I touch you, and I lift you up, and I point your eyes to the fact that Jesus, He says, did not just come to live for you, but to suffer and die on the cross for you. He lifts your eyes and says, you are a failure. You have messed up over and over. It is true. But I want you to look to the cross, look to the fact that I come for you. [00:54:43] (33 seconds) #ChristmasMeansTheCross

Yes, I am almighty and all-powerful, but I love you, and I've overcome your mess. And even though you're still dealing with it, even though you're dealing with your failures and your fear of future failures, Jesus says, I will come, and I will be in it with you, and I will point you back to the cross and the empty tomb and the fact that I'm coming back soon again and again and again, because God, He loves you. Jesus loves you. [00:55:16] (36 seconds) #JesusOvercomesOurMess

So I need you to know two things. I think that Jesus changes the word failure for Christians. Because instead of failure being something that says you don't get to be with your God, instead of failure being something that says you die, instead points us to the one who gets down into our muck and mire, the one who points us to the cross and says, yeah, you have failed, but I haven't. [00:57:28] (30 seconds) #FailureRedefined

Because this year, we are going to celebrate the fact that He's already come and He's overcome our mess. And we are going to celebrate the fact that He is coming back soon. And He's going to take us out of this mess. But between here and there, He says, don't be afraid. Don't be afraid, because I am with you. [00:58:18] (22 seconds) #HeIsWithYou

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Do Not Be Afraid: Emmanuel in Your Mess

Devotional

Day 1: God reveals Jesus' glory to reassure fearful disciples.

Day 2: Approach God's throne boldly for mercy and help.

Day 3: Acknowledging sin opens the way to forgiveness.

Day 4: Jesus comes into our mess to touch us.

Day 5: Called to carry Christ's name despite failures.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Do Not Be Afraid: Emmanuel in Your Mess

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