Fear not.  For behold I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be for all the people.  For to you this day is born a savior who is Christ the Lord. 

THOUGHTS:  Darkness brings mystery, uncertainty and a bit of fear.  When the lights are out and I go for a cup of water in the middle of the night my fear is that I will trip over a toy or a dog Frisbee.  I am also a bit uncomfortable that if I turn on the light I will still be blinded with the adjustment my pupils make. 
    The shepherds that first Christmas were probably blinded by the light.  Some of the great paintings depicting this event show the shepherds with their arms over their eyes in a combination of fear and blindness.  But the phrase "fear not" is given many times in the birth narratives of Jesus.  When the angel came to Joseph and Mary he said the same thing (Lk. 2:30;  Mt. 1:20).  The angel told Zechariah to not be afraid (Lk. 1:13).  The message is clearly to all of us- do not be afraid.  There are tidings of comfort and joy available to those who believe.  The fear is not that we will always be comfortable (after all the baby was born in a manger to poor parents).  But the deep inner fear of purposelessness, apathy and lack of love is gone.  The dark way of life has a ray of hope shining in.  Jesus has come to bring peace, abolish fear, and abolish darkness.  In our world of uncertainty there is hope.

Prayer:  Lord, give me grace to not be afraid but to live in your light and hope

Not Fearing Those Who Can Destroy the Body

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:19)


And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

     Today the American consulate asked Americans in Brussels to "shelter in place."  On Holy Week I am reminded of this passage in John 20.  The disciples were sheltering in place with the doors locked in fear of both the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers.
      Jesus had earlier warned his fearful disciples not to fear those who can destroy their bodies.
      In the midst of their fear, Jesus appeared.  His message to them was to have peace.  The first words of the resurrection are "Fear Not!" The angel said it to the women (Matthew 28:5).  When Jesus appeared he first said, "Greetings" then said, "Fear not!" (Matthew 28:10).  It is clear that the message of the resurrection is to not be afraid but to have peace.  It was after the resurrection that the Disciples took this message to heart about not fearing the ones who could destroy their bodies.  All but one of the disciples died a martyrs' death.  They went from being afraid to being bold.  
      The terrorists will not win if we are not terrorized or fearful.  The Romans and local leaders tried to terrorize the Christians, but the resurrection of Jesus emboldened them.  They began to get that even if people destroy our bodies, they cannot destroy our souls. 

Prayer: Lord, we pray that you would receive those who have died in Brussels with mercy and grace.  We pray for their families, that you would comfort them.  We pray for our enemies- that you would change their hearts and open their eyes to the evil they are doing- and they would turn away from their destructive ways.  Deliver us from evil, O Lord.  Give us wisdom to understand how to protect ourselves.  We ask your protection upon us.  We pray for the churches in Brussels that you would strengthen them.  We pray for the message of your church to stop fear and bring peace.  Help us to live as people of the resurrection, who have peace that passes all understanding.