Thursday, August 21, 2014

Don't Be Afraid

"While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead,' they said.  "Why bother The Teacher any more?'  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.' "  Mark 5:35-36 (NIV)

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, spoken just after the woman with the twelve year long bleeding problem had touched the hem if His garment.  Jairus, the synagogue ruler had asked Jesus to come and heal his daughter who was sick and dying. (Mark 5:23)  Some of the men from his household came and told him that his daughter was dead.  Jesus told him "Don't be afraid, just believe."  The Jesus went with him to his home and He brought the dead girl back to life. (Mark 5:41-42)  

Here, Jesus said "Don't be afraid."  That phrase is stated in The Bible twenty-six times.  The phrase "be not afraid" is written twenty-six times, and the phrase "fear not" occurs sixty-three times.  God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  Fear is an emotional response to a situation, or to an anticipated situation.  Danger is real, but fear is a choice.  The Lord God said that He will always be with us, He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)  Since God is with us, who or what do we have to be afraid of, or to fear? (Psalms 27:1)  Even death is nothing to fear, for He has conquered death.  "Don't be afraid, just believe."


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