A Life Without Fear

No matter our struggles, we can have hope and overcome fear because Jesus promised to be with us—always.

August 22, 2023

Matthew 17:5-7

As Jesus prepared to enter Jerusalem, He knew the days ahead would be challenging for the disciples. He had already told them He’d be arrested and killed and then would rise from the dead (Matthew 16:21). His followers would face costly sacrifices (Matthew 16:24), and the way ahead seemed bleak.

Then the Lord was transfigured, and Peter, James, and John saw Him in the company of the greatest prophets. Jesus revealed a world where He is king, where all the hope of the Jewish people is fulfilled. The three disciples heard the Father affirm Jesus as His “beloved Son” (17:5). The vision was an incredible gift of hope, but it was also overwhelming. Jesus comforted the disciples by saying, “Get up, and do not be afraid” (v. 7). These words were reassuring for the present but also strengthening for the persecution that would come. As we read yesterday, the Transfiguration provided the light they would need for the dark road ahead.

Can we live in the same light? Jesus would later comfort His disciples with a further promise—that He would be with them always (Matthew 28:20). Remembering the promise of God’s presence helps us endure with hope. We may not face the same persecution the disciples did, but the cost of following Jesus remains high. Focusing on Him and the coming kingdom that was revealed in the Transfiguration helps us live without fear.

Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 46-48

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