"The World Brings Doubt but Jesus Brings Peace"
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
What
are you afraid of? Are you afraid of
things that go bump in the night? Are
you afraid of snakes? Bugs? Mice?
Are you afraid that you won’t be able to pay the bills? Are you afraid of dying? Are you afraid of someone else dying? Are you afraid of being a Christian in a society that’s increasingly becoming secularized? Are you afraid of confessing your
faith in front of a bunch of people?
(Clarissa had better get over that one pretty quick)
In
1933, the country was in the thick of the Great Depression. There was fear. Jobs had dried up. For some, food was a luxury. In his first inaugural address, the newly
elected President Franklin Roosevelt famously said, “The only thing we have to
fear is fear itself.” It sounds nice,
but it’s kind of like telling someone, “Don’t worry, things will be
alright.” Which is way more easier said
than done.
When
there’s a bump in the night, being told that you shouldn’t be afraid is hardly
comforting. When a snake slithers across
the floor, someone telling you that it’s a harmless garter snake really isn’t
all that helpful to a person who’s terrified of snakes. (I can personally attest to that.) When the bills are piling up remembering
Franklin Roosevelt’s inaugural address doesn’t really bring a sigh of relief to
a burdened soul. When a loved one is
dying saying that it will be ok, falls a bit empty. So how do we, as Christians face the fears in
our lives?
You’re
not the first to be afraid. The
disciples also knew fear. Even after
Jesus’ resurrection, even after Peter and John stooped down to see the empty
tomb, the disciples, minus Thomas, barred themselves into a room, locked the
doors and sealed the windows out of fear.
And it wasn’t the Romans they feared; they weren’t afraid of Pilate,
Herod, or the Roman guards. But, as the
text says, “On the evening of that day,
the first day of the week, the doors being locked for fear of the Jews.” They feared their own people. They feared the same people that had seen to
it that Jesus was crucified would also go after them. They were terrified for their lives.
Yet,
in the midst of their fear, in the middle of their trembling, “Jesus stood among them and said to them,
‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said
this, He showed them His hands and His side.
Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.’”
The
resurrected Jesus turns their fear into gladness. Their cowering turned to rejoicing. Jesus lives!
He who was dead is alive again.
He is who He said He was- the Son of God,-God in the flesh. He comes to them in that locked room, bearing
the marks of His cross that still scarred His body- that Thomas will, later
stick his hands into. And even though
they all abandoned Him, scattered like sheep whose shepherd had been struck
down, He comes to them not to condemn them, not to punish them, not to chew
them out but to bring them peace.
Jesus
lives, so they didn’t need to fear the Jews, Pilate, or Roman guards. Jesus lives they don’t have to be afraid of
the pain, the suffering, or the dying that they will all endure. Jesus lives, they didn’t even have anything
to fear from God Himself.
Three
times in the text Jesus says, “Peace be
with you,” and that’s what the risen Lord brings to you: peace. He brings to you peace in the midst of fear,
anxiety, and doubt. The peace that your
sins are forgiven before God in heaven. The
peace that no matter what happens in this life, the risen Lord is still for
you. Peace that covers your fears.
Jesus
has been raised from the dead for you.
What’s the worst that anyone can do to you? Your bills may be piling up, but don’t be
afraid, Jesus lives. He, too, had no
place to rest His head. Your loved one
may be dying but Jesus lives, He too, went into and out of the grave. Do not be afraid. The world is becoming more and more hostile
to the Church, but do not be afraid, Jesus wasn’t always looked upon with favor
by society either. Jesus lives. When our fears are cast at the feet of Jesus,
the risen Lord, fears turns to faith.
Because
Jesus lives, we can face the future with confidence. Because Jesus lives, the world has been overcome. We will face trials and pains and anxieties
in this life, but they shall, at last, give way to the joys of Paradise. And until that time, our God sees your fear,
your hurts, and pains as He beheld those of His Son. Jesus also knows your fears and pains because
He Himself has endured them for you.
Apart from Jesus there is fear, but in Christ there is peace. And no matter how you feel, no matter how
burdened you are, no matter how many fearful nights you’ve lied awake in bed, you
have peace with God and forgiveness of sins through Christ.
And
that this peace would continually be placed into your ears, He sends His
disciples out to bring the peace of the risen Christ to all. “Peace
be with you,” Jesus tells the 10 disciples there, “ ’As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on
them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are
forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.’”
Like
pastors today, that’s what the apostles’ primary duty that all other duties
drive toward- forgiving sins. To speak
those words of forgiveness that brings you peace with God. And to even speak those words of forgiveness
to each other when someone sins against you.
That’s the center of the Church, to forgive sins; to take all that the
risen Lord has done for you and the world and pronounce His perfect peace of
forgiveness. To turn the one who has
fear and doubt and point them to Christ, who lives and reigns for you.
The
risen Jesus still comes to you, bringing you peace. He comes to You in His Word, that says, “Your
sins are forgiven through Jesus’ cross and resurrection.” He comes to you under bread and wine. He comes to you under water and the Word. So that no matter what happens, no matter
your fears, Jesus still comes to you with His peace and forgiveness. The words, “Don’t be afraid,” on their own
when things go bump in the night may not be all that comforting. But the proclamation of “Don’t be afraid,
Jesus was dead but is alive again all for you,” brings peace.
Today we’re also celebrating Confirmation Day.
Clarissa, it’s a scary thing to get up in front of God and everyone and
make the confession that you’re going to make.
Yet, Clarissa, the Jesus who suffered and died on the cross but was
raised again is also for you. You, too,
will face some scary things in your life as a baptized child of God, yet He
continues to come to you in His Word and Sacraments. He is your Savior who died and rose again for
you. The Lord richly bless you all your
life as you continue to make the good confession.
That’s
how we face fears as Christians: with faith that your Lord has gone before you
to the cross but lives again and because He lives, you’re at peace with
God. He lives so that at last, at His
coming, we too would behold His nail-scarred body, put our fingers into the
holes that He bore for you and proclaim with Thomas and all the apostles, “My
Lord and My God!” Be glad and rejoice!
Jesus lives! Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life
everlasting. Amen.
