What Fear??

Raul Garcia III

June 10, 2018

3rd Sunday After Pentecost


Let us Pray:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to you my Lord my rock and redeemer.

There are three things happening in this gospel reading that are taking place.

1. There are large crowds that are following Jesus. Jesus is healing, ministering, talking to them about His Father and such. People want more and more.
2. His family shows up because they are worried about Jesus. They are thinking the authorities are going to take him for what he is doing and some of his family members we thinking Jesus was going crazy.
3. The scribes and theological heavyweights were present to see what Jesus was up too.

Jesus was gaining popularity throughout the region by teaching and healing. The ministry he was doing would cause Him to sometimes go away to be by himself but when he would return there would be large crowds. Huge crowds that would surround him and talk with him and walk with him. They were thirsty to hear from Jesus. To hear the good news. To hear about hope and love. This is truly amazing because Jesus talked with everyone. He did not turn people away. Jesus talked with the outcast of society, people that we dare not be seen with or even talk with. Jesus did it.

In my opinion I think the scribes saw this and were disgusted and were trying to sabotage Jesus in what he was doing. They were saying that Jesus is possessed with a demon, with Satan. Don't listen to him. He’s crazy!! But Jesus comes back with a great Jedi mind trick of a question for the scribes and says, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, Satan could not stand, but his end has come. So take that scribes. Why would Satan want to raise people from the dead, or minister to the outcast or treat everyone equal? That is not Satan’s motive. Satan knows that fear is an essential ingredient necessary to separate mankind from God who is a source of life. Sometimes, Satan comes into our minds and gives us that fear. That fear of moving forward or doing what we need to do. We all have fear. The fear of the unknown. Satan rejoices that we have fear, it keeps us from life, it keeps us from God, and giving life to others.

What are your fears?
Do your fears keep you from having a full life?
Does your fear keep you from God?
Does fear keep you from giving life to others?

That is why it’s hard to get students to come on a mission trip, go to camp, or try something new. The fear that they won't know anyone. But not just students but us adults too. We have that little voice in our head that tells us you can’t do that.

But you know what. LOVE conquers all. Jesus loved everyone.

Jesus in his ministry on earth he delivered people from their various fears and gave them life. He fed those who feared hunger, he healed those who feared their illness, he gave friendship to those who felt loneliness, he raised Lazarus from the grave and gave him life. Through acts of LOVE, Jesus delivered many people from their fears and gave them life. His most gracious act of LOVE for all of us was to die on that cross so that we may have a resurrected life with him in heaven.

This LOVE that Jesus has for us comes in and re-defines what our family looks like. In the gospel reading his relatives come to try and get Jesus because they were worried about him. His disciples tell Jesus, hey your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you. They want to take you back. Jesus was with a crowd of people and looks around and says, “Here are my mother, brothers and sisters.” Yes, His blood family was outside waiting for him but Jesus just re-defined what or who is His family. Yes, my family is right there and I love them dearly with my whole heart. But I see all of y’all as my mother, brothers and sisters and dearly care for all of y’all. You are my Family of God.

We have unity in Christ because Christ has declared that we have. Now, having been made His family, we trust in Him. We do the will of the Father. How? By believing in Christ, and living in His LOVE. His LOVE is perfect even though we are not. So together, we abide in Christ’s LOVE and His family. We need to keep serving Him and serving our brothers and sisters, until He comes again. For Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again.

Amen