Fear, Anxiety and the Church

Scriptures

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 14:27-

9

John 15:9 ESV

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

John 15:12–13 ESV

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Context:

Jesus is facing not uncertainty in his death, but certainty. He knows what is coming. Yet he trusts in the Father’s Plan.

1. Yet he trusts in the Father’s Plan.

1.xv He says “my peace I give to you”

2. He says “You are to love as I have loved you”

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down their lives for others.

3. He says “you will have tribulation, but take heart. I have overcome”

This is the Last Teaching of Jesus before his death on a roman cross. He is telling his disciples what will come to pass. He will go away (die) and they will be scattered and Peter will deny him thrice times. But he says I am going to prepare the way for you (sin and forgiveness) and to prepare the house. He promises that they will see him again. Both in the resurrection and in the age to come. In the mean time he will send the Counselor, the Holy Spirit to dwell inside to remind, convict and empower you to live as my disciples. The key will be that you abide in me. You abide in be by abiding in my love. You abide in my love by doing what I command. You can do what I command if you abide in me. The helper will come. What is my command? That you love one another, as I have loved you and thus prove to the world that you are my disciples by bearing fruit. Be warned the world will hate you, because you (and I) are not of the world (remember ). Tribulation and affliction, hardship and tragedies will come. But take heart, I have overcome the world and I give you my peace.

Where do we find out hope? — In Jesus that he will not leave us as orphans

that he too has suffered

Resurrection — that we live for more than now

This our ‘living hope’ a resurrection hope.

Pandemics are not new.

Point 1: We can have hope in this pandemic, and more so, in any pandemic, tragedy or affliction.

Point 2: Our hope is found in the resurrection of the son of God.

Point 3. Because of that hope we can witness to the world about the love of Christ. (how we can love others)

By not succumbing to fear but by demonstrating surpassing faith (trust)

By not being self-preserving but self giving.

By reaching out to care for those most vulnerable.

By Praying together.