Fear is a Liar and a Trap

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 18:12-27

 

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

(NKJV)

 

Decisions motivated by fear often lead to poor outcomes, made to avoid a potential calamity that may or may not materialize. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that fear is not from God and to live our lives empowered by the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Word of God, to live lives of loving for one another, and to have a sound mind. Unfortunately, even in the Church, decisions are made out of fear with poor or even disastrous outcomes. Let us not fall into the trap of fear.

 

Jesus is taken to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest (John 18:12-13). Caiaphas, the high priest had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die for the people (John 18:14). Peter followed Jesus along with another disciple who was known to the high priest (John 18:15). Since the high priest did not know Peter, he could not go in with the other disciple and had to stand outside but was allowed in after the other disciple spoke with the servant who kept the door (John 18:16). When the servant girl keeping the door asked Peter if he was a disciple of Jesus, he denied it (John 18:17). Peter then went over to where the officers and servants had made a fire to keep warm (John 18:18).

 

The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and doctrine (John 18:19). Jesus had not been ministering in secret but did so openly in the synagogues and temple, so he told the high priest to ask the disciples because they knew what He said (John 18:20-21). This response prompted one of the officers to strike Jesus with the palm of his hand, telling Jesus if that is how He answers the high priest (John 18:22). Jesus told the officer to let him know what evil he had spoken and if not why did he strike him (John 18:23). With this, Annas bound Jesus and sent Him to Caiaphas the high priest (John 18:24).

 

Meanwhile, Peter is warming himself around the fire and one of those by the fire asks him if he is one of Jesus’ disciples and Peter denies it (John 18:25). Then one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, asks Peter if he saw him in the garden with Jesus (John 18:26). Peter denied this again and immediately a rooster crowed (John 18:27).

 

The time is approaching when Jesus will be crucified. Peter, who claimed to know who Jesus was (Matthew 16:15-16) is in the courtyard with some of those who arrested Jesus, but instead of coming to the defense of his Messiah and Lord, he cowers in fear, denying Jesus three times. Proverbs 29:25 reminds us that the fear of man is a snare or trap. For Peter, it was a trap that separated him from Jesus during His time of greatest need. For Peter it may have been fear for his life or fear that if he claimed to be a disciple of Jesus, he could not resume his fishing business after Jesus’ death. In either case, Peter is caught in the snare of denying his Messiah. The good news for Peter is that Jesus resurrected from the grave and when Peter met him later, he was forgiven (John 21:15-19). We also observe this once fearful Peter standing up in front of a crowd, many of whom may have been in the crowd calling for the crucifixion of Jesus, boldly declaring Jesus as Messiah (Acts 2:14-39). Peter did not fall into the fear trap again.

 

The modern Church is often like Peter, cowering in fear of a woke culture instead of standing for godliness. During the Covid pandemic, churches remained shut down while other places were allowed to open because they were deemed necessary. This is not unlike churches in Nazi Germany remaining silent about the atrocities against the Jews. While it is sad that it took the martyrdom of someone outspoken about Jesus Christ to wake believers up, we must follow Charlie Kirk's fearless example and speak out boldly about our faith and belief in the truth of the Word of God. This is not the time to be like the church in Ephesus who forgot their first love (Revelation 2:1-7). It is not the time to be lukewarm like the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). It is a time to rise like Peter who knew Jesus died, was buried, and arose from the grave to forgive his sins and declaring that truth. The question is, will those of you reading this join me in courageously declaring the Gospel?

 

If you are reading this and have either denied Jesus or become lukewarm in your faith and want to dedicate your life to following Jesus, I invite you to pray with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage everyone to be like the Samaritan woman and go into your communities and declare the Gospel (John 4:28-30). May God bless, encourage, and empower everyone reading this post.