But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" The man replied, "I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." And the Lord God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" Genesis 3:9-11
Adam and Eve, in eating Eden’s apple against God’s clear prohibition, plunged all their progeny into the darkness of disobedience and fear. Adam’s nakedness did not concern him before he ate, why does it concern him now? Because now he feels exposed and ashamed–he knows something is wrong, he is unacceptable, and he fears judgment.
We all know the feeling–we punish ourselves when we overeat or we covet our doctor’s 2006 Mercedes sports car or we hate our neighbor’s loud children. We know the admonitions to treat our bodies as a temple, to refrain from envy, to love our neighbor. But, even as Christians, we may fear judgment when we knock on Jesus’ door to discuss our disobedience.
The great good news of Easter is that Jesus has swallowed up for all time, the disfellowship that resulted from Adam’s sin. We are returned to the Garden, where, even though something is wrong with us, Jesus welcomes us.
Jesus has finished what Adam began. What Adam began in disobedience, Jesus finishes in obedience. Jesus completely absorbed our sin and shame. John, who knew Jesus best, said, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment." 1 John 4:18
Jesus, we want so much to be perfected in love. Please let your love drive out our fear today.