Luke 12: 4 – 12 Be Not Afraid

Luke 12: 4 – 12 Be Not Afraid

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

In this passage Jesus speaks about a condition that we all, unfortunately, have vast experience with in our time – fear. Fear is one of the most powerful of emotions. When improperly manipulated it causes us to do great harm to ourselves and others – even in extreme instances start wars. Jesus tells us that there is nothing in this life that we should fear. He says that flat out: “do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more”. Then he says it again most eloquently in the parable about the smallest, most insignificant of birds – sparrows. If God cares for the physical wellbeing of these small creatures, how much more will he care for us whom he created in his own image? Who are we to fear? Jesus tells us we should fear “the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna”. What the heck does that mean? I guess Gehenna is what we would call Hell. I have to say right now that I am not high on Hell as a place of unending fiery torment. That concept just doesn’t square with the God of mercy and love and justice that I believe in. It sounds too vengeful, too mean. I prefer to think of hell as eternally being apart from God and knowing that it didn’t have to be that way. But I digress. Back to the topic at hand – who we have to fear. (I think) this is the person (or thing) that has the power to keep us from eternal life, from our place in the Kingdom. The person we should fear is that who will keep us from claiming our rightful place with God, who tells us we are not worthy of God’s love and mercy, who encourages us to despair, lose hope, be inattentive, squandering our time and energy in this world. When I get right down to it I have to say that I believe that person is most likely ourselves – our self doubt, our actions or inactions.