“Do Not Be Afraid, He is Risen”  Mark 16:1-8  Easter Sunrise service 4-12-09

                Today there are many people who are fearful about their future.  They have lost their savings, some have lost their jobs, many have lost everything in the stock market, some are in debt and have had their ability to get credit disappear, and are facing bankruptcy.  On March 7 President Obama went on National YV and said that Americans should not fear the future.  He said this in part because many were fearing the future.   We hear of North Korea having nuclear warheads and long range missiles and it makes us uncomfortable.  Consumer confidence hit an all time low last February and hasn’t bounced back much at all.  Only 7% think that business and the economy is good.   I get these e-mails that say that we are going into a Great Depression, or entering into socialism, or that we are in similar shape as pre-Nazi Germany. 
                In the ancient world, in the Druid religion they were afraid of the light not coming back.   When there was a solar eclipse, ancient people would be terrified because that’s not the regular way things work.   There are whole peoples who worship the sun and had been afraid if they did not, then the sun wouldn’t come up the next day.   We are not afraid of the sun’s rising or failing to rise.   We worship not creation, but the God who made all that we see including the beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
                Fear is as natural as breathing.  It is a part of life.  It is a healthy thing to be afraid when we should.  It is a good thing to be a little bit afraid of a poisonous snake and keep your distance.  It is a good thing when you are standing near a cliff to have a healthy fear of heights.  When you are nowhere near a cliff that is not healthy.    Scientists have actually isolated what part of your brain controls fear. It is under the temporal lobe and is called the amygdale.  But everyone is afraid of different things.  But there are some common fears.
                Six times in this story it talks about fear.  Yet over and over again in the story of Jesus resurrection he says the words “Do not be afraid” Or in the King James Version: “Fear not.”  These are words very appropriate to the resurrection, and words we need to hear again today, and words we need to believe today.  In our world full of fear, we need to find courage in the risen Lord.
                I. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE FUTURE- You may see your economic destruction, but there is a silver lining.  Jesus didn’t have a home.  He had no savings accounts.  He had no investments to lose.  Yet he lived the most meaningful and renowned life ever.  They gambled over his clothes- he literally had nothing left.  His reputation was in tatters- the crowds were shouting, “crucify him, crucify him.” 
                A little boy was in his home when a storm came up and the lights blew out.  He was scared of the dark anyway, and became very afraid.  His older brother went into the room, grabbed his hand, and went around every corner of the room with a flashlight showing him nothing new was there- just because the lights went out.   Then he lay down with his brother and said “I’ll be here til the light comes.”  From that moment the fear in the little boy went away.  So Jesus, having passed through the valley of death, gives courage to his people.  We know He is alive.  Scriptures says, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” 
                II. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF YOUR SIN- Don’t be afraid of your past, of your sin, of your guilt.  The cross is the sacrifice that bore that away- if you will believe.  The resurrection is a reminder that the sacrifice on the cross was accepted and true.  So many people are living in the past- afraid of being hurt again, afraid of hurting themselves again.  Someone was talking to me and said, “I am afraid that my sins will find me out.” 
                The good news is that in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven.  How do we know that? 
                The prophets before Jesus taught it- All we like sheep have gone astray- we have turned everyone to their own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isa. 53)
                 Jesus taught that by his crucifixion we are forgiven.  Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd, and the good shepherd lays his life down for his sheep.”  Jesus said that the Son of man must be lifted up [on the cross] that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life…For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  whoever believes in him is not condemned” (Jn. 3).   These are not just words of another great teacher- like Confucius, or Mohammed, or Buddha.  None of them are raised from the dead.  The cross and the tomb are empty to prove Christ’s words are right- you are forgiven!
                The church has always taught that there is forgiveness of sins in Christ.  We don’t have to wallow in our past.  
                II. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF DEATH- What is the worst that can happen to you?  The resurrection, that we are celebrating here 5,000 miles away, and 2,000 years after it happened, is a testimony that the worst the world can do is not enough for the person of faith.
                People are afraid of dying in an accident, in an extended illness, in a disaster- we read about earthquakes killing people, of hurricanes or tsunamis and we cringe of dying in that horrible way.  We shrink back about murder that seems to be an ever-growing problem in our society.  But let me say this, that dying without Jesus no matter what the circumstances-good or bad- is a bad death.  Dying with Jesus no matter what the circumstances is a good death.   The Christian martyrs throughout the ages testify to that.
                Aristedes- the Greek writer, wrote about the early Christians and why the faith was spreading so rapidly.  He said of this new religion- “If any righteous man among the Christians passes from this world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God.  And they escort his body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby.   As a minister, I have presided over funerals of wonderful, peaceful believers who died in hope.  I have also presided over funerals where there was no faith- only despair.  I have seen people die in faith and die in doubt- there is a difference. The difference my friends, is what we are celebrating this day- the resurrection.  Do you have this hope deep inside your heart?
                When Jesus was arrested- the Bible says the disciples were afraid and ran away.  Before he appeared to them it says they were gathered in a room with the doors locked out of fear for the Jews.  Something happened that changed them from people of fear, to people of great courage.  11 of the 12 died martyr’s deaths. 
When the women went to the tomb the angels said to them, Do not be afraid- you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He has risen!                  He is not here! (Mk. 16:6).
In Matthew 28:10- Jesus spoke to the women who were afraid when they couldn’t find his body and say the angels- He said, “Do not be afraid.” 
In Acts 18:9- the risen Christ appeared to Paul and said, “Do not be afraid.  Keep on speaking.  Do not be silent.”
In the Book of Revelation Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.  I am the First and the Last.  I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!  And I hold   the keys to death and hell.”
My friends, do not be afraid.  He is alive. Believe in Him.