2nd SUN LENT – The only fear is…

 One brief comment about fear – at the sound of the voice from the heavens, the disciples were overcome by fear; Jesus said, “Get up and be not afraid.”  What kind of fear…?

To fear, be afraid = akouo

Matthew 17:6f            When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.  But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.”

To see God or to hear God meant death.  They were afraid of dying.  Now, recall, that they had just heard Jesus say to them after he rebuked Peter for tempting him to change his mission of dying and rising… So, consider at least 2 sources for their terror:

Exodus 20:18f           When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”

Matthew 16:24-26           Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,  take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.   What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

 I find that the disciples were afraid of God’s voice and of Jesus’ last teaching.  And one other thing… shame at their capacity for idolatry.  (See yesterday’s post)

Genesis 3:9f           But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Ergo… don’t be afraid of your vulnerability or fear that leads you to idolatry.  Listen to him…