Fearless
A reflection on John 20:19-21
Fear can paralyze us. It can also prevent us from being where we should be, or doing what we should be doing. Think of the disciples. Not only had they spent significant time with Jesus and witnessed or partook in miraculous acts with Him, but at the last meal they shared together before the crucifixion, Jesus told them (in no ambiguous terms) what would be coming: that He would be going, but that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18). Where then do we find the disciples after the crucifixion – even after Mary Magdelene came to them and told them that she had seen the risen Lord? They were hiding in a room behind the security of locked doors. They were gripped with a fear that the Jews who had the Christ crucified would be coming for them next.
I must admit that I am not puzzled or even surprised by the disciples’ response. I too have been rendered motionless by faithless fear. At times I have been too scared to be identified with Emanuel. I have selfishly retreated to locked rooms and acted as if I was an orphan without the watch and care of the Heavenly Father. I have sunk to the confused and self-pitying position which that sort of fear can bring one to. There is something from this story which puzzles me: it’s Jesus’ response to the disciples. He miraculously entered the locked room (He freely moved past the barriers the disciples had put up), stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” What? He offered them God’s peace? The disciples deserved at minimum a sharp rebuke. Jesus did not give them the kick in the pants they warranted. Rather, He showed them His wounds. He comforted them. He encouraged them. The peace He gave them displaced their fear so they would no longer act as orphans but as God’s children.
David sums it up wonderfully in the twenty-seventh Psalm (a psalm of confidence which we read in September):
The Lord is my light and my salvation:
Whom should I fear…
I would have despaired
unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your
heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord (VSs 1, 13, 14).
We are God’s children. Let's allow His peace to displace our fear.
AaRoN
Fear can paralyze us. It can also prevent us from being where we should be, or doing what we should be doing. Think of the disciples. Not only had they spent significant time with Jesus and witnessed or partook in miraculous acts with Him, but at the last meal they shared together before the crucifixion, Jesus told them (in no ambiguous terms) what would be coming: that He would be going, but that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18). Where then do we find the disciples after the crucifixion – even after Mary Magdelene came to them and told them that she had seen the risen Lord? They were hiding in a room behind the security of locked doors. They were gripped with a fear that the Jews who had the Christ crucified would be coming for them next.
I must admit that I am not puzzled or even surprised by the disciples’ response. I too have been rendered motionless by faithless fear. At times I have been too scared to be identified with Emanuel. I have selfishly retreated to locked rooms and acted as if I was an orphan without the watch and care of the Heavenly Father. I have sunk to the confused and self-pitying position which that sort of fear can bring one to. There is something from this story which puzzles me: it’s Jesus’ response to the disciples. He miraculously entered the locked room (He freely moved past the barriers the disciples had put up), stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” What? He offered them God’s peace? The disciples deserved at minimum a sharp rebuke. Jesus did not give them the kick in the pants they warranted. Rather, He showed them His wounds. He comforted them. He encouraged them. The peace He gave them displaced their fear so they would no longer act as orphans but as God’s children.
David sums it up wonderfully in the twenty-seventh Psalm (a psalm of confidence which we read in September):
The Lord is my light and my salvation:
Whom should I fear…
I would have despaired
unless I had believed
that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your
heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord (VSs 1, 13, 14).
We are God’s children. Let's allow His peace to displace our fear.
AaRoN
posted by Jenny at 10:58 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home