Do Not Be Afraid! Christ Is Risen!

Easter Sunday, 4/12/20
Matthew 28:1-10


Do Not Be Afraid! Christ Is Risen!


I realize you’re not tuning in to today’s service in order to hear more of what you’ve been hearing from every media outlet for almost a month. More than one of you have remarked to me that you hear the same thing day after day. Just the numbers change, a little higher or a little lower. The media are saturated with reports and viewpoints on this pandemic.

But what did you expect? The media are a business. The vast majority of people in our country—in our world, even—are reacting to the pandemic with fear. And that’s the perfect angle for the media. What else would cause people to listen to Governor DeWine every day of the week for an hour? Before this pandemic, I don’t think I listened to him for 10 minutes total. A month ago, I had never heard of Dr. Amy Acton. Now I listen to her almost every day. Why? She gives me information that helps me process what’s happening in our world and in my life. She advises me on what to do and that’s exactly what I’m looking for.

The other day it hit me hard. I was watching the world news in the morning and there was a segment that documented the toll this pandemic is taking on health care workers in New York City. A nurse in one of New York’s hospitals posted a video of herself explaining how hard things have become for her. She’s a wife and a young mother. She’s heading to work right now and it’s tearing her apart. She knows how much sick people need her, but she also knows how much her husband and young daughter need her. And she’s afraid. She’s terrified that one day soon, she might not come back home to them.

Why are people so afraid of COVID-19? I can think of a few good reasons. It’s an unseen enemy. Invisibly it invades and infects. We have no idea where it is. Is it on that railing or doorknob? Is it on my shopping cart? Is the person I just passed in the grocery store infected? And what if I become infected? What if I need critical medical care? Will there be a room for me in a local hospital? Will that hospital have a ventilator if I need one? Will the nurses caring for me have the proper PPE, so I don’t infect them? And what if one of my loved ones becomes infected? We’re afraid.

But it’s more than that. Even if you and I don’t contract COVID-19, we still have our fears. For one thing, we like “normal.” We like things to stay the same. And when they become drastically different, we tend to fear. Who would have guessed three months ago that our children might not finish out the school year in school? I feel bad for all those graduating next month. What will your graduation be? Will you even be able to celebrate whatever it will be with your family and friends all gathered together? And the poor couples who were planning to become married this spring and summer. What do they do? Keep the date and get married before a handful of people who are practicing proper social distancing? And what about a reception? Is there even a place to have it? Fears all around because nothing is normal.

And there are those who are saying that once things get back to normal, it won’t be the same. And they reference how our lives changed after the attacks on 9-11. Airport security has changed drastically. Will life change drastically for us in a few months? If so, what can we expect? We have no idea. Fears all around.

The other day I was afraid to open a piece of mail. Not because I thought it might be infected. I was afraid because I knew it was going to be bad news. It was an envelope containing my quarterly investment statement. I asked my wife if I should even open it. She said, “No,” but I did anyway. And my fears were justified. I lost 16% in just a few weeks. And telling me that it was an unrealized loss doesn’t help me now. What if the same thing or worse occurs this next quarter? Fears all around.

I guess I should be thankful. I still have a job and my hours haven’t been cut. That’s a lot more than millions of people in our country can claim. I know that some of you have experienced unemployment or a slash in expected income. What if it continues? When will it reach the point that you will have to make some very difficult choices? Do you fear how you’ll take care of yourself and your family? Fears all around.

And you’d think that things would be different here in the USA. We have the most powerful government in the world, and yet look at how our leaders are struggling in this pandemic. We would understand if a country like Mexico or Venezuela were having a hard time, but the United States?! What’s more, we have the finest health care system in the world. It’s not perfect, but it’s best there is. And the system is struggling and, in some cases, failing to handle it. And then there’s the economy. We have the largest economy in the world. California by itself is the world’s fourth largest. And within weeks the economy literally crashed.

My point is, we’re positioned better than anyone in the world to handle this pandemic, and it seems like we’re failing. Perhaps terribly so. Fears all around.

So, what does our God think of all this? What does he want me to do? And right here is the heart of the matter. That’s why you’re listening right now. What does your God say about all this?

Well, you won’t find the term “COVID-19” on the pages of the Bible. But you will find that our God allows hardships to come into our lives in order to discipline us. And this pandemic certainly has our attention. The rising death rate ought to remind us of several things.

First, God was not kidding when he stated, “Dust you are and to dust you will return.” Most people in our country aren’t all that fond of dying. They don’t even want to think about it. But it’s inevitable. For you and me, too. And we’re confronted with our own mortality now.

What’s more, this pandemic is another example of all creation groaning under the curse of sin. I’m almost certain this pandemic will subside. I’m not sure when, but it will subside, unless Jesus returns first. But this won’t be the last catastrophe we face. I guarantee another one is going to happen sooner or later. The catastrophe we’re facing now is a harsh reminder of our broken world.

And a broken world calls to mind a broken relationship with our God. We were created to have a perfect, trusting relationship with our Creator. Adam and Eve enjoyed that for a while. But sin ruined it and immediately they were filled with fear. They were now living in a sinful world that was going wrong, not right. And the very cause of it was that their relationship with God was broken.

That brokenness showed itself acutely in their relationship with one another. Instead of love and trust, their husband-wife relationship was marred with fear, doubt and blame.

And now I suffer, too. I’m suspicious of the person in the grocery aisle next to me. I’ll listen to what my government leaders are telling me, but I don’t know if I can trust them. And all the unknows in my life right now are causing me to worry—even be afraid—and that shows my lack of trust in my God.

And that’s when I hear just what I need to hear today—the Easter gospel. Do you recall what the angel said in today’s Gospel reading? Listen again to what he told the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” “Do not be afraid.” What were the women afraid of? Their world had come crashing down on Friday when their Lord and Savior died. All their hopes and dreams had died with him. They no longer knew what the truth was. They had no idea what the future held for them. They were afraid. But the angel told them “Do not be afraid.” That’s the gospel in a nutshell. The gospel is the good news of Jesus who was crucified for our sins but then rose from the dead to live and rule over all things for our good. And there you have it. Do not be afraid! Christ is risen!

The women did as the angel instructed them and made their way to the disciples to tell them that Jesus had risen from the dead. And that’s when it happened. Matthew describes it this way: “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’” The message of the angel hadn’t driven all fear from their hearts. They still weren’t quite sure what to think. But then they saw Jesus and their first reaction was to clasp his feet. That clasping was a graphic indication that they wanted to hold on to him so that he couldn’t possibly leave them. But Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid.” Later on, he would say to them, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). A risen Jesus is always present with his people, no matter how catastrophic the situation is. Pandemic, death, job loss, financial ruin, a broken economy and an overburdened health care system do not indicate that Christ has left us. Do not be afraid! Christ is risen!

You see, the resurrection of Jesus, just as he promised, is our certainty that he will be faithful to every promise he has ever made. Our sins are forgiven. We are his dearly loved children. We are heirs of eternal life with him. And nothing can change that because Christ is risen!

People of God, these are tough times. But there’s no reason to panic. In fact, there’s no reason to be afraid. The Jesus who died for you also rose for you. He’s in control, even over death. It’ll be OK. Place your confidence in your risen Lord and Savior. Do not be afraid! Christ is risen! Amen.