Jesus Is Greater Than Our Fears

It was Franklin D. Roosevelt who said, in his first inaugural address, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He described that fear as a “nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Of course, the fact is there would be no reason for the 32^nd President of the United States to say this unless there was actually something to fear. The country was staggered by the Great Depression, sparking fears that were not nameless or unjustified. Later in his speech, Roosevelt admitted: “Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment,” dark realities that created understandable fear in peoples’ hearts.

            In today’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly tells his disciples to have no fear as he sends them out to proclaim his kingdom. At the same time, He comes right out and says that he is sending them out “as sheep in the midst of wolves.” His words of encouragement, “Have no fear,” show that He knows there is much to fear in a world of dark reality.

            Today, you and I are challenged to face our fears, to name our fears, and to be strengthened in the knowledge that Jesus is greater than our fears.

            As Jesus spoke the words of today’s Gospel, he knew that those who follow Him have much to fear. You may fear rejection if you dare to bring up the name of Jesus. The first disciples had to face that fear regularly. Our society is becoming increasingly hostile to Christ and to Christians, and let’s be candid; that can make us think twice about putting out faith out there for others to see.

            Jesus does not hold back in this passage. He says that persecution will be encountered by those who faithfully share the good news of Jesus, up to and including execution. Now that blows our minds as American Christians. We have a really hard time wrapping our minds around that, and yet just a brief glance at the Bible and Church History shows that Christians have been martyred for their faith and continue to be martyred for the faith in many parts of the world today! You have come to worship today in a church that has a number of symbols up here in the front, in the chancel area; those symbols are in the shape of shields. Did you know that each of those shields represents a disciple of Jesus, and that the symbols on most of those shields tell how that disciple was put to death? Not to be graphic, but there are saws and upside down crosses and spears…now on one hand, Jesus was upfront about this, he told his disciples before the fact, you will be put to death if you preach in my name, but it begs the question, and it is a valid question, why? Why did these people keep talking about Jesus when they knew it would cost them their lives? All they had to do was sit down, shut up and go about their lives quietly. But they could not and they would not. Why?

            The answer? They came to believe that Jesus was stronger than their fears. Jesus was stronger than rejection. Jesus is stronger than intimidation. Jesus is stronger than persecution. Jesus is stronger than execution. Jesus is stronger than death! Jesus has been there, done that. He doesn’t ask his followers to do anything that he hasn’t done already. Jesus has faced every enemy causes us fear. Do realize that? Do you understand that? Jesus himself faced rejection and persecution and execution. Jesus himself faced physical, mental, emotional and spiritual suffering. He understands your fears! He knows you intimately, that’s why Jesus said the hairs of your head are all numbered. He sympathizes with you when things scare you to death! But it’s not just that he knows how you feel. He’s done something about it. He rose from the dead. He came back to life, after his corpse was laid in the tomb. He appeared to his disciples in a physical body that was living again. That’s why they could face their fears and lay down their lives!

            Jesus had faced rejection and responded with forgiveness. Jesus had faced intimidation and responded with courage. Jesus had faced persecution and responded with endurance. Jesus had faced execution and after dying, responded with new life. If that’s who is on your side, if that’s who goes before you, if that’s who fights for you, what do you have to fear? This is precisely why Christians confess Christ regardless of the cost, because if I’m killed for confessing Christ, I get Christ more fully! I enter into life with Him that lasts forever! Do you see the great source of power this can be for you in your own life; in your own struggles?

            The things you and I fear most almost always involve loss on our part; the loss of a loved one; the loss of employment; the loss of a relationship; the loss of possessions, the loss of health; you get the idea. We can’t stand the thought of losing those things and it can be devastating if and when it happens. But Jesus comes along and do you see what He does? He says, “Make me the loved one you fear losing. Make my relationship with you the one you can’t stand the thought of losing.” When you do that, when Jesus becomes the One above all others, you may still fear losing things, but you’re overwhelmed by what you gain. You’re overwhelmed by the promises of what Jesus is delivering to your life. And what do you gain? What is he delivering?

            First this: the promise that even in suffering, He is working for your ultimate good.

            And then this: He has promised to share His victory over death with you.

            A woman who was about to undergo life-threatening surgery stunned her family by saying to the pastor who was visiting, “Isn’t it wonderful that this isn’t the only life we have?”

            That’s the poise and confidence that’s there for you when you rest in Jesus, who is stronger than our fears.

Adapted from a Concordia Pulpit Resources sermon by Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, with an illustration from Rev. Dr. Donald Deffners' "At Life's End"