Do Not Be Afraid!

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and I joined a few others for the Community Sunrise Service. 6:30 seemed so early to me this day because I had been up late the night before because my 5 year would not go to sleep. The worship was good and the people were friendly. It was the beginning of a great day celebrating the Resurrection. The pastor preaching the Sunrise had a good word for the crowd, but it was God’s Word, the Scripture he read, that got my attention:

Matthew 28:1-6 (NASB) 1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid ; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

“He is Risen!” That’s great news. But, what really got my attention were 4 small words found in verse 4: “Do not be afraid.” Was I in fear at that moment? No, not really. I’ve had a little anxiety lately. But I wasn’t afraid at that moment. What intrigued me about these 4 words was that this was an announcement of great news. The angel said “Do not be afraid.” A thought occurred to me in that moment: “I wonder if the same angel gave this message to some shepherds in a field about 33 years earlier.”

 Luke 2: 8-12, 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid ; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people ; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Whether or not this is this is the case is just a (hmmm) thought. However, “Do not be afraid” is a great message for someone to hear. Think about all the moments when we need to hear the message of “Do not be afraid”: the doctor’s office, the first day of school or a new job, a thunderstorm, an opportunity to witness. The scenarios are numerous. In the stories of the Resurrection and Birth of Christ, we have an angel giving this message in an announcement of Good News. However, I bet they were afraid. I would’ve been. I’m minding my own business and all of sudden: there’s an angel. And I don’t think this was a “Touched by Angel” moment either. I doubt these angels looked and sounded like Roma Downy. These angels probably really put some shock and awe around the tomb that day and in the sheep pasture that night. There was reason to be afraid in those moments.

There was also a reason to worship. Seriously, this was not just good news it was great news. The shepherds heard “A Savior is born!” Mary and Mary heard “He is Risen!” Can you imagine what it must have been like for these fairly ordinary people?