Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers and sisters that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:8-10 (emphasis added)

An angelic messenger can really rattle your cage. I don’t know of anyone who has genuinely received an angelic visitation who wasn’t a little shaken. Angels may be in existence to minister to God and to us, but they are still spirit beings of some might. Imagine one appearing suddenly to you. Tall. Bright. Shining like the sun. Speaking in a loud and commanding voice, delivering the message they have for you. Or maybe just speaking to you, without quite as loud or commanding a voice. This is an experience outside the normal. Outside human experience. It shakes you. Any encounter with a part of heaven will do that. As the women left the tomb they were filled with joy for the message the angel had delivered to them, but also a little fear. Was it really happening? If not, where was Jesus? Were those guards going to make it? What do we say and will anyone believe us? Unbound joy mixed with human questions. No wonder they had fear in their minds.

And then…. Jesus! As amazing as an angelic encounter is, meeting Jesus is beyond compare. The angel imparted joy to them, but was unable to quell their fear. They can’t really do that. They can minister to us and ease things, but they are just angelic beings. God is Perfect Love. And it is Perfect Love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18). It took the appearance of Jesus to wipe away all the tears, traces of tears, and echoes of tears. Jesus tells them not to be afraid. Not of Him and His sudden appearance, but also not of what was happening. Or what would happen — remember the ruling scribes and Pharisees were still gunning for Jesus’ disciples. He appeared and stopped all of that. No fear. No fear, just peace.

Jesus also told them what to do. That’s the great thing about Jesus. He gives us instructions and then watches out for us. He can’t lie. Is that why when He sent the disciples across the lake (Matthew 14, Mark 6, John 6) He didn’t tell them when or where He was going to meet them? Had they acted on the authority they demonstrably had been given to cross the lake and stilled the storm, would Jesus have needed to walk on the water or would He have been translated to the other side? Who knows? But they didn’t expect Him to show up on the lake. They expected to meet Him on the other side. Perhaps in another of the boats. But the Word tells us He saw they were in trouble and He walked out to where they could reach Him.

Fast forward to today’s verse, and we join the disciples in the worst period of their lives thus far. Everything they thought they had they now thought they had lost. They were scared, on the run, and hiding. But here Jesus comes again. Walking during their storm. He appeared in His glorified body and told them where to go — and that He was going to be there. They could trust that. Jesus never lies. Now they have direction, purpose, and an appointment. They were in the same situation we are today. We are given assignments. Told where to go or what to do. There’s a lot of ground to cover in between, but we know He is with us and will be beside us when we get there.

I like that the first thing He actually said to them here wasn’t the injunction not to fear. Instead, He commanded them to rejoice. God is a God of Love and Peace, but He is also a God of Joy. Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”“. Psalm 100 (full of praise on its own) says we should “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name. For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations” (verses 4-5). Instead of stopping when Jesus was resurrected, it doubled down! We have twice as much as those of the Old Covenant to celebrate. Twice as much to praise God for. And a much superior tool with which to do it — the Holy Spirit that indwells within us.

When He was born, the angels who appeared to the shepherds sang “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). Praise God. Then realise why. On earth? Peace. Why? God has good will toward men. Sin is about to be struck off the books. Nothing will hinder us from coming into His presence. He has no wrath toward us. Just love. Peace He gives to us (John 14:27). The process is starting, so praise Him. Now after His resurrection He’s announcing it’s over. Sin is done away with. Now we need to get the message out: Sin is no more. Accept salvation and restoration of peace between God and man. Fear is no more for those who believe.

We have no reason to fear, for Jesus was truly raised to life after having died for our sins (Revelation 1:18). We have no reason to doubt, for Jesus has done all that He said and granted to us all blessing by Grace through Faith. We have every reason to rejoice and sing God’s praises for we are free and saved and a new creation hallelujah! Rejoice! It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are. They can be less than ideal, but God is still amazing and awesome and full of glory and majesty! God’s goodness is not dependent on where we live. Or how we are doing. He is worthy of praise and thanksgiving and honour. Because He is. Period. In everything give thanks. Not give thanks for everything. But in everything give God glory, standing there amid the storm praising and thanking Him. Jesus will see you struggling with your oars, but singing with your heart to the Lord God in heaven. He won’t fail to meet you there.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: 2 Corinthians 13:5-12

We should all remember every day that God’s nature has two big components: Love and Peace. He isn’t the God of stressing us out. He isn’t the God of cracking a whip. He isn’t the God of yelling, storming, and demanding. He isn’t judgmental or a smiter. He is Love. He is Peace. Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, all penalties for sin have been done away with. In Jesus we are free to come into His presence with our praises and requests. Because Jesus Christ is in us, we can minister to each other and build each other up. We can minister to the Father and worship Him in truth. Every good thing comes from God so that we can live with every good thing and give them back to God who gave them to us. Dwelling in Peace and Love, even as God is Peace and Love. It is so simple, yet so powerful. What a great gift we have been given.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.