FROM FEAR TO FAITH: ENCOUNTERING THE RISEN LORD

SCRIPTURE READINGS

ACTS 2:14,22-32
1 Peter 1:3-9
JOHN 20:19-31

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “FROM FEAR TO FAITH: ENCOUNTERING THE RISEN LORD.” To understand this theme, we must look at three important keywords: Fear, Faith, and Encountering. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. It often makes us want to hide or give up. Faith is a strong belief and trust in God, even when we cannot see the outcome. Encountering means having an unexpected or meaningful meeting with someone. The key lesson in our Scripture readings is that a personal meeting with the Risen Jesus has the power to change our deepest anxieties into a bold, living hope.

The background of our texts shows a great change in the followers of Jesus. In the Gospel of John, we find the disciples hiding in a locked room because they were terrified of the authorities. However, by the time we reach the book of Acts, these same people are standing in public, bravely telling everyone that Jesus is alive. This change happened because they met the Risen Lord.

The Power of the Resurrection Over Fear

The first lesson we learn is that the resurrection of Jesus gives us victory over the fear of death and failure. Before the disciples met the Risen Lord, they felt defeated. They thought the cross was the end. However, Peter explains in Acts 2:24 that “God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” When we encounter the Risen Lord, we realise that no problem is too big for God. For example, many people today live in fear of sickness or financial failure. We might feel “locked away” by our worries. But just as Jesus entered the locked room in John 20:19 and said, “Peace be with you!”, He enters our troubled hearts today. Because He has conquered the greatest enemy—death—we can have peace in our daily struggles. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

A Living Hope Through Faith

The second lesson is that our faith is not based on a dead hero, but on a living Saviour. Peter, who once denied Jesus out of fear, later wrote in 1 Peter 1:3, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This “living hope” means that our faith is active and strong.

In our practical lives, this faith helps us to keep going when things are difficult. Even if we have not seen Jesus with our physical eyes, we can encounter Him through prayer and His Word. In John 20:29, Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This is a beautiful promise for us today. Even when we cannot see how a situation will improve, we trust in the Risen Lord. We are encouraged by 1 Peter 1:8-9: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

The Transformation of the Believer

Finally, encountering the Risen Lord transforms our character. We see this in Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:32, where he declares, “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.” The fearful fisherman became a bold witness. This happened because the Risen Lord also gave them the Holy Spirit. In John 20:22, we read that Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

Today, the Holy Spirit helps us to move from fear to faith. When we feel pressured to hide our Christian values at work or in school, the Holy Spirit gives us the courage to stand firm. We no longer have to live as victims of our circumstances. Instead, we live as “heirs” of an inheritance that, as 1 Peter 1:4 says, “can never perish, spoil or fade.”

Conclusion

In summary, the journey from fear to faith is only possible through a personal encounter with the Risen Lord. We have seen that His resurrection destroys the power of fear, provides us with a living hope, and transforms us into bold witnesses through the Holy Spirit.

My call to action for you today is simple: Do not stay behind locked doors. Whatever “room” of fear or doubt you are hiding in, invite the Risen Lord to enter. Spend time in His Word and talk to Him in prayer this week. Let His peace replace your anxiety, and let His life give you the strength to face tomorrow with confidence.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the victory of the Risen Lord. We ask that You meet us in our fears and turn them into faith. Fill our hearts with Your peace that passes all understanding. Help us to live as people of the resurrection, sharing Your love and hope with everyone we meet. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Saviour. Amen.