No Fear!

That’s easier said than done—isn’t it? It seems like being scared comes much more natural, because there is so much to be afraid of. On a daily basis we are inundated with bad news. Wars, terrorist attacks, random violence, stock market and economic downturns, unemployment, corruption at all levels of society, new diseases despite of many medical advancements, deplorable domestic and international poverty, and moral decay everywhere.

In many ways the world is at the same place as two thousand years ago. People in power were afraid to lose it and those who felt their oppression were powerless to change reality.

The one person who had shown promise to bring significant change had just been executed on a cross. Jesus, the one who had spoken of a new rule, a kingdom like no other, marked by righteousness, peace, and justice, was dead and buried at the outskirts of Jerusalem. With his death their faint hope was gone and had been replaced by despair. Although he had often spoken about what was to happen, those who followed him had not been able to understand or comprehend.

Then some wonderfully extraordinary news had reached their ears. The One they had seen breathe his last breath had appeared to some of them in bodily form. He was alive! What were his first words to his bedraggled followers? “Do not be afraid!”

Maybe we feel as helpless today as Jesus’ followers two thousand years ago. We too find ourselves in a Holy Saturday moment, where we can’t do anything but wait. However, we can take courage in the fact that the resurrected Son of God transformed a cowardly bunch of disciples into powerful witnesses who would turn the world right-side-up.

As his followers, we too can find our strength in the fact that this risen and very much alive King has promised to never leave us or forsake us. No, we are not assured that things will be easy or without difficulties and challenges. But we are promised his God-with-us presence, so we do not need to be afraid and instead can obey Jesus’ additional command: “Go and tell others!”