BESEIGED BY FEAR

May 15

Bible Reading: John 20:19-23

John 20:19a, “…the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews.”

The religious leaders had seemingly won a victory.  They had long sought Jesus’ death, and so it came to pass.  As predicted by Jesus, His disciples had scattered from Him at His arrest.  And even while they were running for cover, the high priest questioned “Jesus about his disciples” (John 18:19).  The disciples were afraid.  They had always felt secure in the presence of Jesus.  For their troubles, He always had the answers.  He who had the power to calm the storms, exercised a calming influence in their lives.  They loved Him and trusted Him and could make no sense of what had transpired (John 20:9). 

So, the disciples sequestered themselves.  “For fear of the Jews” they shut themselves in and locked the doors (John 20:19).  One can imagine them anxiously scrutinizing every suspicious sound or activity outside their self-imposed captivity.  What were they to do?  How could they possibly escape their plight?  The sequestered disciples, in fact, had no reason to fear.  Jesus had escaped His tomb and there was no reason to entomb themselves in fear.  But they were unaware of the truth of it.  Then “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19-21).  Joy and peace vanquished trouble and fear “when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).

We face all kinds of things that might work to cause us to fear.  “In the world (we) have tribulation” (John 16:33).  But in Him we can possess peace (John 16:33).  We are sometimes like those sequestered disciples, entombed by fears and all the while forgetting that He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33).  In the truth of His resurrection, there is reason for us to “take heart” (John 16:33).  Many of our fears could be alleviated if we would but remember that the Risen Christ is with us.  He stands in our midst (Revelation 1:13).  He is intimately aware of all about our troubles (Hebrews 4:15, Acts 9:4).  His power toward us is of surpassing greatness (Ephesians 1:19f).  His love for us surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).  Nothing shall separate us from it (Romans 8:35f; Hebrews 13:5).  He has opened to us the doorway to the throne of grace that we might find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).  That same Risen Jesus who visited His fear-bound disciples, is alive and present with us this very day. 

Look into that empty tomb—He is not there—He has risen victorious o’er all our foes.  Look again to “his hands and his side” (John 20:20)—behold how much He cares (Romans 8:32). 

“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause for fear.  His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer—His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” – John Newton

ARISE MY SOUL, ARISE
Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all-redeeming love, His precious blood to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, oh, forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pard’ning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.