Fear not

If you were to meet a disciple of Jesus what would he tell you about him?  To clarify, if you were to ever meet one of the 12 Disciples of Jesus what would he tell you about Jesus? You know, one of the special 12, those inner 12; one of those guys who lived beside Jesus, walked beside Jesus, ate with him, camped out with him, worked with him, laughed with him, cried with him, learned from him, for over 3 years.  Those guys; if you met one of those guys what would they tell you about Jesus?

Chances are that they would tell you a number of things.  They would tell you stories that followers of Jesus have known and love for years.  They would probably also tell you things you’ve never heard before.   You will not meet one of the 12 this side of the Kingdom of God.  And yet their Gospel accounts live on.  And according to what has been recorded, Jesus said, “fear not”…a lot

He said it in sinking boats.  He said it when sending his followers out into the world.  He said it when he himself had more to fear than anyone else.  He said it when he was departing from his disciples to “prepare a place” for all who believe.  He said it when his disciples saw him walking on the water.  He said it when Peter, John, and James watched Jesus Transfigure.  He said it a lot more.  Easier said than done Jesus.  Fear not?  How do we do that with all there is to fear in this life? 

Jesus doesn’t point to you when he says fear not.  He doesn’t ask you to look in the mirror.  He doesn’t ask you to muster up your strength.  He doesn’t ask you to do anything.  In fact according to Jesus, fearlessness has nothing to do with you at all.  It has everything to do with Jesus.  Fearlessness for Jesus is not closed eyes.  Fearlessness is not sitting buried–head in sand.  Fearlessness is not foolishness; nor is it pulling yourself out of a world full of dangers, toils, and snares.  Fearlessness is completely, totally, utterly and alone...life in Christ.  It is a life that in all the scariness and real danger of this real world, that continually stands behind our great big Savior Jesus Christ.  A great big Savior that went first–like a big brother.  He is–He's our big brother.  And this big brother has won for us the right to be in His family...to be a Child of the Heavenly Father.  And He is fierce–He is fearless in our place.  Even when the REAL scary shadows creep–the evilness of Satan, and Sin, and Death that eye has not seen, and tongue cannot tell.

In the Revelation given to John of Christ in His Kingdom Jesus says this, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore…” –Rev. 1:17-18.  Jesus has died and raised back life in order to say to you, “fear not!”  I have overcome death, I have overcome sin, and I have overcome any fear in life.  The creator and sustainer of all things seen and unseen says, fear not; not because of who you are, but because of who I am.  And because he is the God of the universe, we know he is able to what he says.  He will receive all who believe in him, into his Heavenly Kingdom.  A place where, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away”—Rev. 21:4