Fear Not, Christ Is Risen

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” – Matthew 28:5-6

The materialist view of the world says there is no God. It declares, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” This view is without God and therefore without hope; it is sheer pessimism in the midst of hollow laughter. Only the scriptural view of reality is positive and optimistic. Thus, if you are a materialist, you are afraid. What are you afraid of? You are afraid of many things, but, ultimately, you are afraid to die.

Only the biblical view of creation, fall, and redemption can deliver us from all our fears, for its focus is the greatest event that ever took place-the resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

I. The Cause of Fear

The cause of fear is sin and death. The first man Adam sinned, and as a result he experienced fear. He said to God, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (Genesis 3:10). Adam was afraid to die and face God’s judgment. The wages of sin is death, which is spiritual, physical, and eternal separation from the blessed God.

But God had a plan to deliver man from this fear of death. So God later spoke to Abraham, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward” (Genesis 15:1). Later, David declared, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). And later still, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah: “‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. . . . Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you,’ declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:10, 14).

In the fullness of time, the eternal Son, the Word, became incarnate and entered history to help us. An angel of the Lord appeared to the poor shepherds of Bethlehem and said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

All four gospels move speedily to the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of this Savior who came to destroy the fear of death and usher in an era of great joy. Jesus himself said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). By his death he conquered death, and by his life his people live eternally in the presence of God. The kingdom he inaugurated is one of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ brings many sons from eternal misery to eternal glory. So we read in the book of Hebrews, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Christ alone gives us eternal life in place of eternal death.

This conqueror of death declares to us in the last book of the Bible, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18).

II. The Cure of Fear

Our problem is sin, which leads to fear and death. The cure of our problem is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us, then, consider three aspects regarding this resurrection.

– The Promise of the Resurrection

After Jesus’ death on the cross, Mary Magdalene and other women, out of their love for the crucified Jesus, made their way to the tomb on Sunday, the first day of the week, to anoint Christ’s body, though he had already been given a royal burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, two members of the Sanhedrin, who used seventy-five pounds of an expensive mixture of myrrh, aloes, and spices for his burial to honor him as king of the Jews (John 19:38-40).

These women did not believe in the resurrection of Christ, nor did any of the apostles. They had completely forgotten the prophecies of Scripture and those of Jesus himself concerning his rising from the dead. In Matthew 16:21 we read, “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day must be raised to life.” In Matthew 17:22-23 he said, “‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him and on the third day, he will be raised to life.’ And the disciples were filled with grief.” Again, Jesus said, “They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:18-19).

Jesus’ disciples forgot all these prophecies. But the angels did not forget. The angels told the women, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:6). In Luke 24:7 they said, “Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'”

What fear and misery we experience because we will not believe God’s declarations! Because of their unbelief, the women were afraid. That is why the angels said, “Do not be afraid” (v. 5). Jesus himself told them the same thing a brief time later: “Do not be afraid,” or, “Stop being afraid”-in the Greek, mê phobeisthe (v. 10). Even the apostles were afraid. Mark 16:10 says they were mourning and weeping. And recall the words of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-24). They were full of pessimism, hopelessness, misery, and depression.

Why this fear? Why this weeping and moaning? Why this pessimism? Let me tell you, it is the result of unbelief. If we believe the promises of God we shall not be afraid; instead, we shall rejoice with exceeding joy. The antidote to all fear, misery, gloom, and depression is to believe the good news of the bodily resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

-Evidence for the Resurrection

Because God created us as reasonable beings, he has given us reasonable evidence for the bodily resurrection of the crucified Christ. On the first day of the week, an angel came down from heaven by the commission of God the Father and rolled back the heavy stone that blocked the entrance to Christ’s tomb. Note, the angel did not do this to let Christ out. Jesus had already come out through the grave cloths, through the head cloths, and through the walls of the sepulcher. And later that day he came into the upper room when the door was locked.

No, the angel removed the stone so that Christ’s disciples might enter the tomb and see and know that Jesus had, in fact, risen from the dead. So the angel told the women, “Come and see the place where he lay-come and be convinced that he is risen, just as he prophesied. See, the tomb is empty!”

In response to the women’s report, Peter and John also hurried to the tomb and saw for themselves that it was empty. Yet they also noticed that certain things were left behind-the linen strips that wrapped his body and the cloths that covered his head. This alone should convince us that no friend or foe of Jesus would have stolen the body, because no one stealing a body would leave these coverings behind. The sight of the empty tomb and the wrappings was sufficient for the beloved disciple John, as John 20:8 tells us: “He saw and believed.”

Our God is reasonable; thus, he gives us reasonable evidences to believe. So there was not only the empty tomb, but also the appearances of Jesus to various people: first to Mary Magdalene; then to Peter and the other apostles; then to his brother James and others, five hundred at one time; and last of all to the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

The Lord provided evidences beyond the visual that he was physically raised from the dead. We are told that Mary and the other women also clasped his feet and touched him. And when Jesus came into locked upper room, he told his disciples, “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:39). Then he went further and said, “Do you have anything here to eat?” and he ate a piece of broiled fish in their presence. Peter declared in Acts 10:39-41, “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen-by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” Why did Jesus eat? He did so to let his disciples know that he was the same Jesus who had eaten the Last Supper with them.

But then there was Thomas. The Scripture portrays him as pessimistic, dull-headed, and doubting. He was probably a loner, one who dealt with problems by going into seclusion. Thus, when Jesus came to the disciples on the first Resurrection Sunday, Thomas was not there. So the others went to Thomas and said, “We have seen the Lord!”

What was Thomas’ response? “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (John 20:25). Jesus complied with Thomas’ reasonable demands, and Thomas believed and confessed, “My Lord and my God!” and worshiped him. This is the greatest honor we can give to Jesus.

We also read about the frightened Mary. She lingered around the tomb, weeping and distressed, wondering where Jesus’ body had been taken. But when Jesus addressed her, “Mary,” she instantly recognized him. His loving voice was sufficient evidence. (PGM) Jesus says in John 10 that when the good shepherd calls his own sheep by name, they will follow him because they know his voice. Jesus knows us and calls us each by name.

The Lord provided reasonable evidence to many people of Christ’s bodily resurrection. They saw him, heard him, touched him, and ate with him. So Jesus said, “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48; 1 John 1:1-4). Now, someone might say, “Well, I will believe if he appears personally to me.” Let me assure you, that is not going to happen. God saw to it that many people witnessed Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and these witnesses wrote it down for our benefit. God has given us reasonable evidences, and we must believe in this good news, or be overwhelmed by fear of death and hell forever.

– The Importance of the Resurrection

1. Christ’s resurrection is the means of our salvation. Why is it important to believe in the resurrection of Christ? Because without the resurrection, we cannot be saved. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” A gospel without the resurrection is no gospel at all. Only the gospel of Christ can solve our problems, by conquering death forever and bringing “life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:10).

2. Christ’s resurrection is the basis of our forgiveness. The resurrection demonstrated that God accepted the sacrifice of atonement that Christ offered in our place. Jesus said from the cross, “It is finished,” and on the third day God the Father said “Amen” by raising him from the dead. Forgiveness of sins comes to us the moment we put our trust in Jesus Christ on the basis of this accepted sacrifice.

3. Christ’s resurrection is the source of our righteousness. The one who died in our place was perfect. Because he kept the law perfectly, his perfect righteousness comes to us. Clothed in this righteousness, we stand before the eternal God without fear. God accepts us and communes with us, and the benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14 becomes our reality: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.”

4. Christ’s resurrection proves the veracity of all Jesus said. Jesus prophesied his own resurrection many times, and he was indeed raised from the dead. Therefore, everything else he said is trustworthy and true as well, including his teachings about hell, heaven, judgment, and his second coming. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and “I will raise you up on the last day.” If Jesus did not rise as he prophesied, then all he taught would be mere delusion. But he did rise; therefore, we are obligated to believe everything he said.

5. Christ’s resurrection is the basis of our regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. First Peter 1:3 says that God the Father “has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Romans 4:25 says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Our sanctification as well as our justification is based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, for his resurrection power enables us to live lives pleasing in his sight. Likewise, our final glorification is also based on his resurrection, for we will receive a glorified body like unto his own (Philippians 2:20-21).

6. Christ’s resurrection is the guarantee of our own resurrection. As mortal creatures, we are all going to die. But Jesus said, “If you believe in me, you shall never die.” So true believers shall never experience death in its most terrible form. Rather, death will be our entrance into the presence of God and a greater enjoyment of our heart’s desire, the eternal being of God.

Many scriptures declare that our resurrection is based on the resurrection of Christ. First Corinthians 6:14 says, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” Why? Because by faith we are united with him. Second Corinthians 4:13-14 tells us, “It is written: ‘I believed; therefore, I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.” And in 1 Corinthians 15:49 we read, “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.”

7. Christ’s resurrection provides us with power for this life. The resurrection is not mere academic theory. Because Christ lives, we will live also. Even now we experience Christ’s resurrection power. By faith in Jesus, we are united with him in his death, burial, and resurrection. And just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. We do not have to sin any longer. We do not have to yield to temptation. We are recipients of this great power by which we can say “No” to sin, and “Yes” to the will of God.

In Ephesians 1:18 Paul says, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” And Ephesians 2:1-10 speaks about this great power that raises us from the dead, telling us that we are new creations, God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has ordained that we should do. And in Ephesians 3:20 Paul exclaims, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. . . .”

Thus, the resurrection power of Christ is not something outside of us, or something in heaven that we have no experience of. If we are Christians, this power is within us. In Ephesians 6:10 we are commanded, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” And in Philippians 4:13 Paul declared, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Such is the resurrection power of Christ that operates in us. Faith in this gospel is the victory that overcomes the world.

Does the resurrection matter? Yes, both for the present and for the future. It affects how we live our lives today and guarantees eternal life in the presence of God. Therefore, rejoice! Christ is risen!

III. Our Commission

Having been saved by his resurrection, we are now commanded by Christ to go and tell others the cause and the cure of the human problem of fear of death. The women were told by the angel, “Come and see . . . go and tell.” Jesus gave the same commission to his disciples: “Go and tell. . . . Go into all the world. . . . You are witnesses of these things. . . . Proclaim to all nations repentance and forgiveness of sins.”

The resurrection is the good news, and our commission is world evangelism. We are to proclaim to all the world the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins and was raised for our justification, and that if we believe in him, we shall be saved.

Go and tell your family, your friends, your city, your country-tell the whole world! Tell how the Lord Jesus has received all authority in heaven and on earth. Tell how death has been defeated, sin has been atoned for, fear has been driven out. Go and tell the good news of great joy.

Come and see . . . go and tell. Come and see the condescension of Jesus Christ, that the eternal Son came down to earth and became incarnate. Come and see the horror of our sin that put Jesus on the cross. Come and see the reality that we will die and experience hell unless we trust in him who died in our place. Come and see that Jesus is not in the grave; he has conquered death for us, and he holds the keys of death and Hades. Come and see that in his resurrection we also shall be raised from the dead. Come and see, then go and tell.

How can we not proclaim the good news that Jesus rose from the dead? This is the greatest event that ever took place in the history of the universe.

What about you? Are you afraid? Then trust in Jesus, who grants us life and immortality. Trust in Jesus, whose sacrifice has been accepted by the Father and therefore provides forgiveness of all our sins. Trust in Jesus, who gives us his perfect righteousness. Trust in Jesus, who gives us righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit by ushering us into his kingdom-a kingdom, not of misery, depression, and fear, but one of triumph.

Jesus calls us “my brothers,” and he calls us by name, as he called Mary. Hear him, follow him, live for him, die for him. We may be doubting Thomases, but he has given us enough evidences. Be convinced of the gospel and confess, together with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” and worship him.

Only Jesus can drive out all our fears and give us peace, for he is the Prince of peace. Let him come in, and still all our storms. Where Jesus is, there is peace, joy, and triumph. We cannot have Jesus and fears, Jesus and misery, Jesus and depression. He is risen from the dead, and now he speaks to us: “Fear not; peace be with you.”