Fear, Children, and Jesus (September 20, 2009)
By Rev. Albert Collver

“I don’t understand.” The doctor replied, “The test showed…” I was afraid to ask what the doctor meant.

“I don’t understand. We have to cut back. Our sales dropped the last quarter.” I was afraid to ask what this meant for me.
What don’t you understand that makes you afraid? Flipping through the headlines of the newspaper or watching the news on television at the top of the hour presents us with a baffling number of items that seem to defy our understanding. There seems to be so much to fear. Who among us will be the greatest? At least, the greatest among our peers to keep our jobs, our homes, our families, our health, our church? How can we stay ahead to keep the edge we need to distinguish ourselves from other people? How can we make others want to choose us? We are afraid what our status will be in the future? How will my employer review me? Will my spouse want me? Will my children respect me? Will the Lord show me favor?

A few years ago, I watched some children play. One child was older than the other. He had knowledge how some things worked in the world. He knew that wasps could sting you and that a wasp nest potentially was something that could get you stung. Meanwhile, the younger child didn’t realize that the creatures growing inside the nest could hurt. They were just squirmy worm-things to pull out and put in the jar to collect. She had no fear because she didn’t know or understand.

Children sometimes live between two worlds. On the one hand, children become afraid of things that are harmless. A balloon pops, the baby cries. The wind blows or the leaves rustle and the child is in his parent’s bedroom needing comfort because he is afraid. On the other hand, children can be blissfully unaware of the danger approaching. Like a child playing with a wasps nest. Or a child playing in the street, unaware that the traffic could hurt him. Yet here, in the Gospel reading for today, the disciples become afraid because they don’t understand. The disciples argue who will be greatest. Meanwhile, Jesus takes a child into His arms and shows them what it is to be a servant.

Mark’s Gospel is fascinating because it paints a picture of Jesus that shows how difficult it was for people to understand Jesus. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ friends and enemies become afraid because of Him eight times. Each time they become afraid because Jesus doesn’t fit the image they conceived in their minds. Jesus’ enemies become afraid because Jesus rises in popularity with the crowds and His teaching challenges their position as the religious and spiritual leaders of the day. The people who witness His miracles, especially the casting out of demons, become afraid. Jesus does things no one else can do; this is frightening. And the people closest to Jesus become afraid because just when they think they understand him, He says baffling and disturbing things that show them a Jesus they cannot control or manage. In each of these cases, Jesus leaves His enemies, the crowds who witness His miracles, and His disciples afraid. Most ironically, and you heard this Gospel lesson this past spring. In Mark’s gospel, when Jesus rises from the dead on Easter morning, “they were afraid.” What are you supposed to do with that? “He is Risen!” They were afraid! Doesn’t quite have the ring of “He is Risen! He is Risen indeed Alleluia!” Mark leaves us in the same place in today’s Gospel lesson. The disciples don’t understand and are afraid. Meanwhile, Jesus takes a child into His arms.

Jesus was just difficult for His disciples to understand. I don’t think it is much different for us either. If we went around and asked people who Jesus was and what they thought of Him, we would hear many different answers. We would hear many different answers even from people who attend church. People have different expectations of Jesus, both in the Gospel and today. Some people went to Jesus because they wanted to see a pop-star. Others wanted to hear a good speaker. Others wanted to be healed. Some thought Jesus could make them popular or bring them power. Some went to Jesus to see how they could eliminate Him. When people’s expectations of Jesus weren’t met, they became afraid, filled with anger, or abandoned Him. Today it is not much different for people.

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples three times plainly that the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men and killed and after three days He will rise. Each of the three times, something very interesting happens. One time, Peter needs an exorcism. “Get behind me Satan.” (Mark 8:33) Another time, today’s Gospel reading, the disciples become afraid and then begin to argue among themselves who is the greatest. And after the third time, James and John ask Jesus if they can sit on His right and left hand in His glory. (Mark 10:37) Notice the pattern? Jesus says He is going to die; the disciples respond by rejecting His death and seeking glory. In Mark’s Gospel, no one wants a Jesus who suffers. Everyone wants a successful, glorious, and powerful Jesus. The disciples don’t understand and are afraid. Jesus takes a child into His arms.

Jesus has called His disciples; He has called us to the way of the cross. Jesus said, “I am going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Me.” Those who follow Jesus also are delivered and killed. You wonder why the message of Jesus isn’t popular in the world? That’s it. Christians are getting sick and have problems just like everyone else. In some cases, perhaps more, than others. In fact, Jesus says to get ahead in the kingdom of God, you must become last and the servant of all. When you feel beaten down by the world, when things aren’t going well in your life, when you feel tired and exhausted, the last thing you want to do is to serve anyone. You might even feel like the disciples wondering when someone is going to wait on and serve you.
There are so many needs in this world, so many demands on us. By the time we are done dealing with what our jobs, family, daily living, etc. required of us, we often feel as if there is nothing left. We might even feel overwhelmed. This makes it all the harder to think of serving our neighbor or helping those in need both near and far to us. These are very real feelings. This reality can make it hard to ask people to consider helping orphan children in Kenya, or girls in need of education in South Africa, or people suffering from earthquake or natural disaster. Yesterday, we spent time in Detroit, even walking some of the streets. The need is great. How can we help others when we can’t even help ourselves? The disciples didn’t understand and were afraid. Jesus takes a child into His arms.
 

Friends in Christ, the need around us is great. Your need, my need, those of the people in Detroit, and those of people around the world is great. The need is greater, the hurt is stronger, the suffering more intense than any one of us can meet. We can’t even help ourselves in many cases. Jesus not only told His disciples to be the last of all and the servant of all, Jesus Himself, though He is the first one – the Son of the Holy God, became last. Jesus became the servant of all. The crowds thought they needed a miracle worker and someone to provide for them food and clothing. The disciples wanted to sit in the glory of Jesus, to be great in His kingdom. Instead of success, power, and glory, Jesus took the cross. Our Lord knew that the problem that truly affected us all was our sin and separation from His gracious favor. Everything else – our discouragements, failures, pain, suffering, loss, etc. – is just a symptom of the real problem. Jesus took upon Himself all of our hurts, failures, and sin. Jesus suffered the wrath of God in our place. He died the death and after three days He rose from the dead. Jesus who became last of all and servant of all, is the first-born of the dead. We shall follow after Him, rising not only from the dead but also leaving behind all the things that troubled us in this world.

While the disciples didn’t understand and were afraid, Jesus took a child in His arms. Jesus has taken you, His dear children, into His arms. He has made you His and as His child promises that He will work all things for your good. The crosses and sufferings that we bear in this life are not to be compared to the glory He will bestow upon us. The crosses and sufferings that we experience in life crucify our sinful nature and cause us to cling to Jesus as a child in His arms. We learn to seek Him for all that is good in our life. More than that, when we help our neighbor we see Jesus in them. As we take care of our neighbor we do it for Jesus. For He has brought us together as His people, as His body, uniting us in His forgiving gifts. He fills us so that His love and mercy spill out of us onto others. You see, we really can’t help ourselves any more than a cup can help itself when it overflows having too much poured into it. Jesus pours more forgiveness, love, and mercy into you than you can hold – so that it spills out around you. When you think about it, that’s kinda messy. Life is messy, being around children is messy. Yet this is how our Lord Jesus comes to us. He takes away our fear by taking us His dear children into His arms and He enables us to reach out and take others in our arms in His Name.

When you do not understand or you are afraid, take comfort in the arms of Jesus. Jesus will never fail you.
Go in peace. Amen.