Love Overcomes Fear

Luke 13:31-35

One day I got an emergency call for a man who lived up the street from us, and walked up to his home to deliver the message. He had several dogs, and one was so mean that most people were afraid to even walk past the house without a club of some kind. As I knocked on the door, all the dogs heard me and came rushing, with the mean one leading the pack. Having taken some Karate classes, I responded with a round house kick to his head and a second one to his side as he spun around. He flew off the porch and rolled before taking flight. The other dogs fled as well.

After that incident, his dogs avoided any confrontation when I walked down the street, but would slink along behind the hedge peering out in hopes that I’d get careless and get close enough they could safely bite me.

Jesus had withstood Satan’s attacks when he was tempted, and like the mean dog, was afraid to attempt a direct approach, but he never gave up looking for some way to attack safely. Fear evokes strong physical and emotional responses that Satan can use to manipulate people, so he tried to produce fear by using warnings of violence from some of the Pharisees. That way, Jesus couldn’t quote scripture reminding him of his sin.

“The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:31-33)

Jesus was fully aware of the danger, knowing that he would be killed at the proper time. He was also aware that he had a job to do before it happened. He refused to allow fear to force him into hiding or stop his ministry. He had to live each day, trusting God to protect him.

Fear is tool Satan uses to bring people into bondage to him. Christ has given us the same Spirit he had, and Romans 8:15 reminds us, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Paul reminded Timothy of this again in II Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” This results in the statement of Hebrews 13:6, “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Part of the fruit of the Spirit is an attitude or spirit of love. When we have that attitude of love, loss to ourselves ceases to matter in direct proportion to the strength of our love. I John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” That concern for self that makes us hesitate demonstrates the weakness of our love. Jesus experienced no hesitation.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 13:34-35)

Jerusalem was the center of worship for the religion God had established, yet it had killed more of God’s prophets than the wicked countries around them, because they refused to face their sin. Throughout history, some of the wickedest cities have been those ruled by a religious group, because they become so involved with maintaining their own illusion of being right they destroy anything which calls it into question, and ignore the sin itself. The history of Babylon, Rome, Salt Lake, and Mecca provide just a few examples.

Jerusalem would not see Jesus after his death, until they turn to God, as described in Revelation. Revelation also describes the destruction of Babylon because they never accept him as their Lord, clinging to their own power instead. Many other religious centers have already been destroyed because of their wickedness. One day judgment will come to all of them. In the meantime, God is reaching our begging them to turn to him. Their power is only temporary.