Fear not.

Fear is natural in our world. It is a logical, emotional response to threats, pain, and danger. How can we overcome fear, while still facing the very real concerns of life? Our Savior Jesus offers us real comfort, confidence, and solutions. 

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”// John 16:33

In the verses before verse 33, Jesus dropped a ton of information on them about what was coming—information they would not know the full impact of until reality hit in the next few hours and days. They had grown so accustomed to Jesus being with them. Now he would be taken away. Daily, for three years, he was their constant companion. But now he was to be ushered to the gallows, or better put, the Roman version of the gallows: the cross.

The disciples are being struck by the unknown. The unknown, in their case, is almost unreal. A battle for eternity was beginning and all hung in the balance—Jesus was going to plummet himself into the most horrific experience of abuse, bodily torture, and, finally, death and detachment from God his Father.

The disciples could not see what was coming but would have these few words of promise: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.”

The unknown brings trouble or perceived trouble. This world is not without trouble, but trouble for the disciples was closer than they could imagine. Fists and chains were advancing to lock down their leader and they were unaware. When it sprang on them, they would be stunned, maybe even shattered, but Jesus’ words would be there for them to ring through the fray. In perilous fear they would wonder how they could have peace in their Master. He seemed powerless to act. How could peace rise up in them when their leader looked so sad and tortured and abused?

This world comes with trouble—we learn to expect it. But even when we anticipate it, the trouble looms larger and more virile than expected. We fear what could happen next. COVID-19 has brought abrupt waves of uncertainty. We ourselves have never experienced events like this before. How can we face the unknown and still have peace?

How many of us had hoped and even assumed that we would be back to normal by Easter or soon after. But normal is gone and it is being replaced with something we have never seen—it is unknown.

Jesus warns us about the trouble that will surface in our world. What he is offering does not push trouble out of the way. But it does allow an internal fortress in each of us: peace. How will we not crumple under fear? How will we rise to live a new day? Jesus says, “in me you will have peace.”

In the crumpled body of Jesus on Rome’s most prized form of torture, Jesus does not appear as a victor. But he is. My debt for all eternity has been paid in his groaning and dying. My security of resting in the Father’s bosom is wrought from the despair Jesus felt as the Father turned his back on him. He gets abandoned so that I never will. I can rest in his accomplishments and know that Jesus stands as the victorious conqueror. “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Blessings, 
Pastor Al