Monday, March 31, 2008
Matthew 28:5-6 Do not be afraid . . . He is risen.
WORDS NOT FOUND IN THE EASTER DICTIONARY: FEAR
In the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 2006 Edition, there are many words you won't find in your grandmother's dictionary. Words like ringtone, unibrow, and aquascape are among the nearly one-hundred new words included in this dictionary.
What if someone were to compile an Easter Dictionary? Words like resurrection, victory, and joy would certainly be among the words we'd find if there were such a book. But what words wouldn't we find? What words would never be included or added to the Easter Dictionary?
Let's start with the word "fear." My Webster's dictionary defines fear as "the distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain . . ." When the women looked inside Jesus' tomb early Easter morning, they felt fear. Certainly that fear was caused by the shining appearance of the angel messenger. But it went deeper than that. Jesus was dead, or so they thought. With Jesus gone, so went all hope for the next life as well as all courage for this life. Without their all-loving and all powerful Lord, how could they face life in a world of impending danger, evil, and pain? With Jesus cold and dead in the tomb, how could they face their sins and the hell sin deserves? What hope did they have beyond this life with the Author of Life now lifeless?
But "fear" is not in the Easter Dictionary, as the angel made clear: "Do not be afraid . . . He is risen."
As frail creatures of dust, fear is an all too common experience. But Jesus' Easter victory over death and all evil erases that word from our hearts.
+ Fears over money, health, relationships, disappear when we remember that Jesus lives. The one who conquered death can overcome any fear we may have.
+ The fear that comes from a guilty conscience cannot last when we trust that Jesus' resurrection is God's firm declaration that Jesus' death truly paid for every last one of our sins. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:17; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:34-35)
+ The fear of death itself is now swallowed up in the Easter victory. Not even the grave holds any threat for us any longer.
Beloved, you won't find the word "fear" in the Easter Dictionary, for "He lives to silence all my fears!"
