What are you afraid of? Your students may share fears about the dark, a scary storm, that monster under the bed, being alone, or a bad dream, but what about you? Not being able to balance all your responsibilities? A looming decision about what’s next in life? A raging illness in you or someone you love? Having enough – money, time, answers for those around you? Death?

Like Jesus’ disciples in the days surrounding his death on the cross, we can live with fear even once we know who Jesus is and what he has done. Jesus came to perfectly obey God’s law where we could not and to die the death for sin that we deserved. Our sin separates us from God, and on our own, we have no way to remedy that. But, thanks be to God! He provides deliverance from sin and death for us in Jesus. Jesus, who not only died to pay the punishment for our sins, but then rose victorious over sin and death on Easter morning.

Through faith, we have Jesus’ victory as our own! In him, we are delivered from sin, from death, from hell, from guilt, from fear. In Jesus, as our text shares, we can “trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2). Jesus’ resurrection is proof of that!

Where sin, regret, and mistakes try to weigh you down, Jesus says they are paid for, they have no claim over you anymore. Where the circumstances of this life lead to worry or exhaustion, Jesus says, “I am your strength and your deliverance.” Where sickness and death cause fear and alarm, Jesus says, “Look to me. Trust me. Because since I live, you also will live – eternally with me in heaven.”

Only Jesus has the answer to death, and don’t we long for that? To know what comes next, to know that this sin-filled world isn’t it. Don’t we long for peace, for belonging, for love, for forgiveness, for life? In Jesus, and him alone, we have it – all of it. Because of Jesus’ sure and certain resurrection, we can have hope, joy, and contentment despite the fears and concerns that creep into our lives. And, we can share that message of hope and deliverance with those around us – in and out of the classroom. Jesus’ resurrection literally changes everything! May it change the way you think and live today!