Do Not Fear

Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear him who can kill both body and soul in hell.” (Matthew 9:36)

The word we translate as “hell” is Gehenna. Gehenna was/is a deep ravine next to Jerusalem where they would throw their garbage. Garbage in their day wasn’t paper and plastic. It was the unused parts of animal carcasses and I suppose vegetables. Rather than leave it to rot, they kept it burning with a perpetual fire.

It’s easy then to see how that awful place became associated with their vision of hell, the place of ultimate judgment for sinners. It’s the last place anyone would want to go. And Jesus says to fear the one who can kill body and soul like that.

To whom does Jesus refer? Who is that one? He doesn’t explicitly say. Many assume he’s referring to Satan, but Satan doesn’t win, he can’t win, so I’m left to assume Jesus is referring to God himself. That’s scary indeed.  One could launch into a whole sermon on the fires of hell. Maybe it would be scary enough to straighten us out! How do I NOT go to hell? We might then wonder what we should and shouldn’t do to avoid going there.

Bishop N.T. Wright offers us a pop quiz: “Which command is repeated most often in the Bible?” (This would make a great Family Feud question!)

“You might imagine it’s something stern: Behave yourself! Smarten up! Say your prayers! Worship God more wholeheartedly! Give more money away!

You’d be wrong. It’s the command we find in verses 26, 28 and 31: Don’t be afraid.[1]” That is three times in today’s Gospel. Jesus, after bringing up the fires of hell, immediately assures his disciples that although they will face all manner of opposition to the Gospel, they are not to fear. If they were going to fear anything, it would be God himself. But then he immediately gives them these most reassuring examples of how the God who created everything cares particularly for each of us. Jesus refers to God as “your Father,” who knows every sparrow and when it falls, he can and does count every hair on your head. You are of great value, eternal value.

So do not be afraid. Do not be afraid.

This week we received a most unusual visit to our church office.  Walter Ruff stopped by to give us this plate, which commemorates the 75th anniversary Good Shepherd celebrated back in 2001. He found it while sifting through the ash and debris left from a fire that destroyed his parents’ home four years ago. That fire also killed his parents, Walter Sr. and Carolyn. And it happened that night that their great-grandson, Liam McLemore, who was also Walter’s grandson was visiting for the night. Liam had just turned six and also died in the fire.

The fire burned the house to the ground and destroyed everything. Walter used a tractor to move the ash and debris off the foundation to a quiet spot in their orange grove. He has been sifting through it in his spare time ever since. The fire was so hot that all Walter had found up until this week were a few melted coins and other metal objects, until he found two of these plates. He gave one to his daughter Stephany and the other he brought home to Good Shepherd.

That fire was an awful accident. This plate has value because we know its story, that out of all the ruin and death and destruction of that awful fire, two plates left intact remind us of the bonds of fellowship Walter Sr., Carolyn and Liam had with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through Church of the Good Shepherd.

We’re going to hang it up somewhere. I’ve instructed Lisa and Cyndi not to clean it. The dirt and the ash are now part of the story. Out of the ashes of that deadly fire, their Father, Our Father, has shined light. In that, we are reminded that Walter Sr.’s story did not end in that fire. Carolyn’s story did not end in that fire. Liam’s story did not end in that fire.

Their stories live on in our hearts and minds, yes. More importantly, they live on with them, for they are with their Father right now. Now we are getting at the basis for Jesus teaching his disciples not to fear. Our earthly fathers may give us a good example for understanding our heavenly Father’s love. Regardless of how our fathers succeed or fail, or if they even show up at all, we all have “Our Father who art in heaven.” His love is perfect. He provides, he nurtures, he protects. He corrects and he forgives.

There is real danger. Jesus’ disciples will face the same reactions that Jesus himself faces. And while most of them will suffer greatly and die for sharing the Gospel, it’s not just the authorities that will be difficult for them. They will face opposition among close family and friends. The Gospel is at once wide open to everyone, but it divides because we have to choose God ahead of everything else including, and most importantly, ourselves.

If you were to choose your own life, what will happen? Well, we all die. And if you’ve vested everything in yourself, then that’s that. Once you assume room temperature and your brain goes cold, that’s it.

When we choose Christ, we put Him first. It’s like choosing to turn onto a highway that goes on forever instead of a dead-end street. There’s a sign at Homeland Cemetery Road south of Bartow, beneath it, it says “No Outlet.” Your Father doesn’t want you on the dead end street. As Paul put it, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:5-6)

When we’ve made that decision for Christ, it’s not that we never sin again. But we know when we stumble and we know the direction we are heading. So we repent, get back on track and forge ahead. Our relationship with Our Father remains strong and good. And our story goes on forever because of Our Father’s love and his desire for us to be with him forever.

Do not fear to share this Good News. And men, remember that you have a particular opportunity and responsibility to reflect God’s fatherly love in your families and the people you mentor. May your love be perfect as his love is perfect as you provide, nurture, protect, correct and forgive.

AMEN

[1] Wright, T. (2004). Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-15 (p. 118). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.