Easter Overcomes Fear

Matthew 28:1-10 Easter overcomes Fear

1. Fears is something we all have

• Many people have intense fears of spiders snakes infects

• Fear of closed spaces. That’s another common fear, called claustrophobia. People with this fear find it unbearable to be inside small spaces such as elevators, closets and caves or mines

• Fear of death. While very few people have a desire to die, some have a crippling fear of death. Some people will not leave home for fear of a deadly attack or accident.

2. What caused the fear in the women?

• One of the things that may have put fear in the women’s eyes were As soon as they arrived, there “was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it” (Matthew 28:2).

• Some people have a fear of earthquakes Some have fear of disasters.

3. Dispute the fears the women they overcome their fears

• They go into the tomb and they saw The appearance of the angel which “was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow” (v. 3).

• The soldiers who had been posted to guard the tomb “were so afraid of him the Angel that they shook and became like dead men” (v. 4). These strong soldiers could not overcome their fear

4. The Angel gives a message Fear Not

• Then the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid” (v. 5).

• THe Angel knew what they were feeling, and he wanted to comfort and encourage them.

• Psychologist Bill Gaultiere and pastor says that “Fear not!” is “the most repeated command in the Bible.

• Fear not Easter people we hear this in many ways such as “Do not be afraid” or “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” but the message is always the same:

• Know that God is with you, giving you peace in the middle of stress, danger or uncertainty.

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5. What happened that first Easter morn can help us to fear not

• We fear the deaths of loved ones, serious illnesses, not having enough money for retirement, business failures, climate change, mass shootings, terrorism and criminal activity.

• We can believe the Angel “Do not be afraid,” he said. “I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:5-6).

• The very worst thing that could possibly happen — the death of God’s Son on a cross — has now been overcome by the resurrection.

• Darkness has been replaced by light, and death has been replaced by new life.

• Now Then go quickly and tell his disciples,” said the angel. “‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him’” (v. 7).

6. Finally, Easter gives us the Power to live without fear:

• The promise of Easter is that Jesus is going ahead of us, we do not need to fear the future

• Easter gives us the power to live without fear,

• We are trusting Jesus to lead us into the future with confidence.

• Although we will still face situations that make us anxious and afraid, we are overwhelmed.

• We can give our fears to the Lord, who conquered death and is waiting for us in the future.

• The apostle Paul was facing a number of terrifying threats: Imprisonments, floggings, shipwrecks, and danger from bandits and other opponents. And yet, because he believed that Christ was raised from the dead, he could say, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Nothing in all creation, said Paul, “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 37, 39).