As we celebrate Easter this year we also mark a full year of living during a pandemic. We have all encountered new difficulties because of COVID. Many have been through COVID, others have watched as loved ones have suffered, sadly some of us have even lost friends and family to COVID. Yet, there is one aspect to the pandemic that I believe is common to our experience and that is fear. To one level or another we have all feared the ramifications of the pandemic in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. 

Some fear getting sick and the complications of COVID
Some fear death
Some fear for their parents, their children or their spouse
Some fear for the financial ramifications of the pandemic
Some fear the loss of contact with family and friends
Some fear if life will ever return to normal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LywwVy0za9s

Unfortunately, fear is common to the human experience. You can't live in this world and never experience fear. Sadly many people allow their fears to control their lives. When we fail to understand our fears and respond to them properly, they can cause great damage to our spirits and to the way we live our lives. Fears not dealt with lead to depression, anxiety, loss of relationships, inability to function normally at work or school. 

The question for us is not how to avoid fear altogether but rather how to respond to it correctly. As we look together at the story of Easter and at the truth it presents we can find a unique solution to our fears, one that has the power to calm our hearts, cure our anxieties, and give us a deep joy and hope for the future.

Fear is a central part the gospel story

The truth is that fear played a role in the lives of many in the gospels.

There was fear at Jesus birth

Both Joseph and Mary feared when an angel appeared to them
Zacharias also feared
The Shepherds were terrified
Herod was troubled by the news of Jesus birth

There was fear during Jesus ministry

The disciples afraid when Jesus walking on water because they thought it was a ghost
Peter James and John terrified when they saw Jesus in his glory and heard the voice of God the Father 
The Pharisees feared Jesus power and popularity

There was fear at Jesus crucifixion 

The disciples ran in fear when Jesus was arrested
The Pharisees arrested Jesus at night because they feared the people
Pilate also feared public opinion
The centurion who was guarding the cross was terrified by the earthquake and said, "surely he was the Son of God!" Mat 27:54

The disciples' fear continued after the crucifixion right up until Jesus appeared to them and calmed their fears. Let's look closely at one of these encounters from Matthew 28.

1  Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead,