Fear No Fear

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

“Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals. The number of those who did the work according to their service was: of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. The sons of Asaph were under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied at the order of the king. Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh with the harp. Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were under the hands of their father for song in Yahweh’s house, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of God’s house: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king. The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight. They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.”
(1 Chronicles 25:1-8)

“One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their chests. All his acquaintances and the women who followed with him from Galilee stood at a distance, watching these things. Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom. This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. He took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.”
(Luke 23:39-53)

When the Temple went into service, the people were unified. Everyone involved took their turn doing whatever it was they were tasked with. It didn’t matter what their social standing was. They threw lots of the jobs and were happy to take what came up. It was because their purpose was to glorify the Lord. It wasn’t THEIR glory or standing that they were concerned with. It was God’s. Unified in worship, the desire to worship, and the desire to place God above all, they came together and did what was needed without any messy internal politics.

At the time of Jesus’ death, everyone was at each other’s throats. It wasn’t all the Sanhedrin condemning Him. It wasn’t all the Jews seeking His end. It wasn’t just Jews involved. High born and common criminals. Gentiles. Soldiers and kings. It was a MESS. None of them were unified, but their confusion made it easy for God’s will to be performed. Jesus kept ministering to the last. Walking out the Father’s will. Seeking His glory, and not His own.

Summary

We are all parts of a singular whole (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Jew first and then Gentile. Pastors, teachers, counsellors, laymen, deacons, evangelists, janitors, office workers, Sunday School teachers, rabbis, singers, musicians, etc etc. There is a place for everyone and everyone has their place. The important thing is that we are together and unified in one purpose: to glorify God. In making God our priority, we can come together in love and ignore the small differences. We can do that because in the important things, we are unified. We are together. And we are actively worshipping and obeying God Almighty. In Jesus, we are ALL the same.