4 Pentecost VBS Celebration June 28, 2009

"Do not fear, only believe." (Mk 5:36) Jesus spoke these words to Jairus, the leader of the local synagogue, when some people came from his house to tell him that his sick daughter had died. We just heard the whole story as our Gospel for today, so we know how the story ends. Jesus takes the twelve year old girl by the hand and says to her, "Little girl, get up!". She promptly gets up and walks around. She has been restored to life by the power and love of God through the Person of his Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

O.K., VBS’ers! How many times have we shouted "Fear not!" over this past week? I’ll bet you its been at least a hundred times in those five days. We’re even wearing tee shirts this morning that say, "Fear not!". "Fear not!" is almost the eleventh commandment. These words, or their equivalent, appear many times in both the Old and New Testaments of our Bible.

God spoke these words to Joshua, whom God chose to succeed Moses and finally lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. God said, "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed (Fear not!) for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Josh 1:9) God is with us. (Fear not!)

God spoke these words to Mary through the angel Gabriel when he came to tell her that she would become the mother of Jesus. "Do not be afraid, Mary, (Fear not!), for you have found favor with God." (Lk 1:30) God cares for us. (Fear not!)

God spoke these words to Joseph, who was engaged to be married to Mary, as he struggled with how to respond to the news that she was to have a baby. "... an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, (Fear not!) for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’" (Mt 1:20) God gives us life. (Fear not!)

When Jesus and his disciples got caught in a sudden storm and their boat was about to sink, Jesus said to them, " ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ (Fear not!) Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm." Mt 8:26) God is powerful. (Fear not!"

And, on the night before he was crucified, in his final teaching to his disciples, Jesus said to them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. ... ... Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (Fear not!) (Jn 14:27) God does what he says he will do. (Fear not!)

This week in VBS you have learned five good reasons NOT to be afraid. As I read those reasons to you one more time, I ask you and the rest of the congregation to respond by joining with me in a great big "Fear Not!’.

God is with us. (Fear not!) God is powerful. (Fear not!)

God does what he says he will do. (Fear not!) God gives us life. (Fear not!) God cares for us. (Fear not!)

Let us pray:

O God of peace, you teach us in your word that perfect love casts out all fear, that in returning and rest we shall be saved, and in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: So fill us with your love and your peace that, whatever our circumstances, we may always hear you saying to us, "Fear not!"; through your Son, our Savior Jesus christ, who promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age.. AMEN