They were afraid to ask him

They were afraid to ask him.

Jesus must have really scared the apostles when he told them that he would suffer, be rejected by the elders, and be killed.   Even though they couldn’t fully understand what he meant, they caught his ominous tone, and that frightened them.   How could he, such a wise miracle worker, fall afoul of the leaders in Jerusalem?   How could he provoke so strong a reaction that they would want to kill him?   And more to the point, maybe the disciples made the connection that if Jesus’ life was in danger, theirs might be as well.

No wonder they kept quiet!   They didn’t want to hear the answers to the questions arising in their hearts.   The prospect was too scary.

Fear probably grips us more often than we would like to admit.   Even Jesus experienced fear; remember his words to God in the Garden of Gethsemane.   Fear is a perfectly normal response to any threat or danger that faces us.   You could even say God has given us this gift to keep us safe.   Think of how the “fight or flight” reaction has kept human beings out of danger for millennia.

But like any emotion, fear without faith can get out of hand.   It can cut us off from the Lord, who is our source of confidence and peace.   It can overshadow our ability to use our reason to help us know how best to respond.   It can make us feel alone and powerless, when we really aren’t.

There will be things in life that scare you.   But you don’t have to let fear control you or overwhelm you.   If you can take just one step forward with trust, you’ll find new strength.   Your fears will diminish a little, and that will give you hope.   The fear may not disappear altogether, but it won’t rule you anymore.

The next time you find yourself caught up in fear, bring it to the Lord.   Ask him to bring you his peace and to give you his perspective.   Talk to your spouse or a trusted friend, someone who can help you work through your fear.   Remember, it’s okay to be afraid as long as you face your fears with faith in a loving, generous God.

-word among us