No Fear

Tension filled the air. The twelve gathered with Jesus to observe the Passover. They knew that the Jewish leadership wanted to get rid of Jesus. Yet they had observed the great multitude praising Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey just a few days prior. The crowds had shouted, “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”  (Matthew 21:9).

Three different crowds gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Passover. There were the Jewish leaders and their loyal followers who wanted Jesus dead. The second group that congregated was local believers and believers from all over Israel. They had seen Jesus perform miracles, raise the dead, and hear him speak. Thirdly, there was the “unaware” crowd of local unbelievers and the multitude of people coming from all over Israel and other nations to observe the Passover. Seeing Jesus praised as the Son of David, these were the ones who asked, “Who is this?” (Matthew 21:10).

A few days later, this third crowd would help populate the multitude that cried out, “Crucify him. Crucify him.”

The twelve apostles could feel the atmosphere of both hate and love for Jesus. Not long before this, when Jesus went to raise Lazarus from the dead, they had questioned Jesus about going back into the dangers of Jerusalem. They warned Jesus, “The Jews of late sought to stone thee, and goest thou thither again?” (John 11:8).

Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the  Passover in an upper room guest chamber in this charged, emotional, love-hate setting. They would recognize the host as they went into the city. He would be a man bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him and ask him where that room is. As they went, everything fit into place just as Jesus said, and they prepared the Passover there.

After observing the first Lord’s Supper, Jesus warned the disciples, saying, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night:” Peter boldly stated, “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” Jesus informed Peter that he would deny Christ three times before the night was over. Peter disagreed with his Master, saying, “Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.”  He was not alone in that affirmation. The Scripture says, “Likewise also said all the disciples.”  (Matthew 26:31-35)

Before the trial, it is easy to say, “I will be bold for the Lord.”  But what will you do when facing a life-or-death situation? Will we be bold for the Lord?

Peter failed miserably that night of Jesus’ arrest. But he wasn’t alone in that behavior. Mark 14:15 says, “They all forsook him and fled.”

In the Old Testament, Syrian king Ben-hadad boasted before the battle that he would destroy Israel. Ahab, the king of Israel, said, “Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.”  (1 Kings 20:11). Ahab’s army then defeated all the armies of Ben-hadad.

We are blessed to know that Peter and the other apostles humbled themselves, overcame their fear, and boldly turned the world upside down for Christ. (Acts 17:6). Their faith in God and love for Christ gave them the boldness to spread the gospel.

Sometimes overconfident Christians can boast of their great spiritual boldness when they are actually “trembling in their boots.”  Paul warns every man, in Romans 12:3, “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Later, he warns in 12:16, “Be not wise in your own conceits.”  Humility is required.

God instructs in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”  Jesus taught, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

David testified, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”  (Psalm 56:11). Solomon counseled, “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.” (Proverbs 3:25-26).

When faced with a trial of persecution, Jesus instructed, “Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”. (Luke 21:14-15).

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7).

John boldly stated in 1 John 4:18, “Perfect love casteth out fear.”  Peter admonishes us to give all diligence to add to our faith several vital elements of godly character. He climaxes that list of godly characteristics with “charity” or love. (2 Peter 1:5-7).

May it be my desire, and yours, to cultivate the character of Christ’s love in our life. Then, when the trials of persecution come, the thing we value most is love toward Christ. This single-minded, focused, perfect love will cast out fear.