Do Not Be Afraid

What are you afraid of? There are lots of things that make us afraid. Maybe you’re afraid of creepy, crawly things like spiders and snakes. Maybe you’re afraid of the dark or thunderstorms or being home alone. All of us are different, but we’re all afraid of something.

Especially death. Maybe kids don’t think about death very much, but adults do. Death seems like the scariest thing of all. For many parents, the scariest thought is having one of their children die. Of all the scary things in the world, death is the scariest of all.

That’s why Mary Magdalene and the other Mary weren’t happy as they trudged to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning. They were sad about death—Jesus’ death. They had watched Jesus die on the cross. It was horrible! They had seen Jesus be laid in his tomb. Now they hoped they could add some more spices to his dead body. Their hearts were filled with doubts and fears.

But when they got to Jesus’ tomb, who wasn’t there? Jesus! Instead, they saw an angel. Did you hear the angel’s first words to the ladies? “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). The ladies must have been surprised. “Don’t be afraid? How could we not be afraid? Jesus is dead! There is nothing scarier in the whole world!” Except, Jesus wasn’t dead. The angel shared the wonderful news, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:6).

Can you imagine how happy those women must have been? They ran from the tomb, “afraid yet filled with joy,” when suddenly, whom did they meet? Jesus! He told them exactly what the angel had said, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:10).

Do you get the point? Do not be afraid! Not even of death. Jesus has power over death, and that means that death isn’t the end for believers in Jesus. Instead, Jesus will raise us from the dead, just like he raised himself from the dead. 

For Christians, death is the day we get to rise and be with Jesus in heaven. So do not be afraid!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, there are a lot of scary things in life, including death. Thank you for rising from the dead and promising to raise everyone who believes in you. Help us not to be afraid, even of death. Amen.