Do not be afraid.

I'm starting to get concerned that if I keep quoting C.S. Lewis on here I'm going to have to give a nickel to his publishers for each hit the blog gets.

Do me a favor, don't rat me out.

But yes, grief does feel like fear in some respects. Uneasiness, unsettled-ness, uncertainty, never knowing what happens next, the inability to relax...the list could go on.

Not only does grief feel like fear. There is, in fact, a lot of fear in the grieving process.

The fear that your loved one didn't know how much you loved them.

The fear that you could have loved them more.

The fear that you have somehow failed them.

The fear that you have to continue life without them.

The fear that you will never see them again.

The fear that the resurrection or the afterlife may not look like what you had planned.

The fear that there could be no resurrection or afterlife. 

(C'mon folks, don't be so surprised. If you've never considered the possibility that your belief system is merely a belief system, you haven't properly challenged your belief system. But, believe me, even when you've assessed that your house is built upon the rock, the storms can still get pretty nasty.)

Yes, my friends, there is a lot of fear associated with grief.

It is because of this fear that I find so much consolation in the resurrection story in Matthew's Gospel account.

Two of the Marys, there were lots of Marys, were going down to the tomb on the morning of the resurrection. It doesn't say why they were going. Were they going to grieve? Or, were they going to investigate?

On the way there, there was a large and sudden earthquake. An angel of the Lord appeared, the angel opened the tomb and sat on it. Weird, I know, I can explain the significance another time. The Roman guards at the tomb freaked out and passed out.

It's a pretty intense scene. So, it should come as no surprise that the first words out of the angel's mouth were "Do not be afraid."

These women are stricken with grief, either looking for Jesus or coming to weep at His tomb, they just felt an earthquake, they just saw an angel, and they just saw Roman soldiers (tough dudes) pass out from fear.

And...the angel's first words are "Do not be afraid."

Easier said than done.

He goes on to say that Jesus is risen, and he'll meet them in Galilee.

The women left quickly with fear and great joy.

Fear AND Great Joy, kinda like when you're about to get on a roller-coaster.

They don't get far until they are suddenly met by the risen Christ. He greets them, they fall at His feet. His first words to them..."Do not be afraid."

I think we're onto something here.

First of all, let's recognize that these women were pretty brave. They had the guts to go to the tomb on the day that the resurrection was supposed to occur, a tomb being guarded by the Romans.

Where was the rest of the gang? Hiding. 

Why? Because they were afraid.

Why were they afraid?

They just saw their leader get beaten to a pulp and nailed to a cross.

Their guy lost.

The Jewish authorities and the Romans were not big fans of these Jesus followers.

They weren't sure that this whole resurrection thing was going to work out. (Neither was Jesus, for that matter. Remember the garden at Gethsemane? Remember His last words from the cross?)

The disciples were afraid. The women were afraid. And, what are Jesus' first words? "Do not be afraid."

This is the same Jesus who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

The same Jesus who descended to the dead. And, who has now on the third day rose again.

And, what does this guy have to say? "Do not be afraid."

I know it's easier said than done, but I like where Jesus is going with this.

Then, that got me thinking. Where else does Jesus tell us not to be afraid?

Before His crucifixion and death, Jesus nails it on the head.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” -John 14:1-4

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid." -John 14:27

Jesus knew the disciples would be afraid. Jesus knows that we have fears. Perhaps that's why he took some pretty opportune moments to remind people to not be afraid.

In the midst of my grief this week, these texts have given me peace. Pre-Crucifixion Jesus and Post-Resurrection Jesus both remind us to not be afraid.

Again, I know it's easier said than done. But, I've been giving it my best shot.

I believe in the resurrection.

I believe that the pain of grief, and the fear it brings, will never defeat the hope of resurrection.

Easter blessings to you all.

Grace and Peace,

Robert

*Bonus*

Here's a decent choral arrangement for the hymn, "You Are Mine".

Do not be afraid I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and Follow Me

I will bring you Home

I love you and you are Mine