Howdy, Church fans! How do move from fear to peace? The resurrection makes all the difference. Check it out. The video is below. The text is below that.
One of the striking transitions in the scriptures is the way that Jesus greets his disciples. During his public ministry and even up to his passion and death, the first words out of Jesus’ mouth are typically, “Do not be afraid.” or some variation thereof.
However, after the Resurrection, his greeting changes. Now it is, “Peace be with you.”
What’s going on here, and how do we move from fear to peace?
First, let’s look at fear. Reasonable fear itself is not a bad thing and is often useful for survival. When we find ourselves between a sow bear and her cubs, it’s a good thing to be afraid and to remove oneself from the area. When the hackles go up and the ears go back on the bull moose in the front yard, fear is a good thing.
But this is very different from unreasonable fear, such as fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, or fear of appearing “too religious.” Such fear paralyzes us and keeps us from doing the loving thing. As such, it is can rightfully be said that the opposite of love is not hate; it is fear.
Peace drives out fear, especially the peace that Christ gives. The peace or “shalom” that Christ is talking about is the reality of when things are as they are intended to be. Before the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, things were not as they were intended. Sin had entered the world and held it in its grip. Fear was the result. However, after Christ reconciled all creation to the Father, the world was set aright. The effects of sin are still around, but sin no longer has mastery over the world. Christ has broken the bonds of sin, suffering and death. The possibilities are literally endless. Sin, suffering, and death are still part of the human reality, but they can’t rule our lives. Like Christ, we transcend the vagaries of the present age and rise above to new life in the Spirit. This is the peace that the world cannot give. This is the peace Christ.