Reason to Fear?

After a lesson from Mark 10:28-31 in the previous article, Jesus explained again what awaited Him in Jerusalem. Now, other teachings of Jesus to His disciples about what was going to happen were also recorded earlier in the Gospel of Mark, so this wasn’t necessarily new information, but it sounds like it may have been presented in a new way.

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Mark 10:32-34 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.10.32-34.NIV

Living on the other side of history from Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, we know what happened next (or, if you don’t know, you can read about it in the Bible). However, the apostles were about to see some of those events first-hand. Before getting to that part of the gospel, though, I’d like to call your attention to something recorded earlier in Mark, when the crowds saw Jesus after the Transfiguration.

As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

Mark 9:15 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.9.15.NIV

In Mark 9, the people were “overwhelmed with wonder” [NIV] or “amazed” [NASB]. Here in Mark 10, the disciples were “astonished” [NIV] or “amazed” [NASB], while the crowds were “afraid” [NIV] or “fearful” [NASB]. While the reaction when Jesus returned from the Transfiguration might have been partly due to external factors, there seems to have been some level of “differentness” around Jesus, even unease in some cases, despite the fact that many people – both disciples and detractors – were drawn to him.

So, let’s ask what we might have glossed over if we read these passages too quickly: Why would people following Jesus be afraid? (And, if so, why would they keep following Him?)

Were they feeling guilty about their sins in the presence of holiness?
Were they concerned that a political and military revolution was coming, and that it could get messy (even if they eventually won a war against the Roman Empire, as they might have imagined)?
Were they afraid that those who had made themselves enemies of Jesus in Jerusalem would prevail against Him? [see Black, p.188]
Were they just afraid of the unknown, since Jesus was so different from what they were used to?

(Your suggestions are also welcome in the comments!) The specific source of this fear may have been a combination of all of these things, and it probably varied by individual. In any case, though, I think that it’s important to understand that although Jesus was fully human, He was also fully God. And, being in the presence of Jesus wasn’t just “another day in the office”.

So, how about you and me? When we are in Jesus’ presence, are we aware that He is special? Do we understand that He is more than merely a “good teacher” or a prophet: that He is fully God? Do we appreciate that He is our Lord (meaning that He has the right to tell us what to do) and our Savior (saving us from our sins when we could do nothing for them ourselves)? While there is much to be said about the difference between a reverent fear and being scared of someone, I think that it’s good to remember that being in Jesus’ presence should give us a sense that things are decidedly different. If we don’t feel that around Jesus (or don’t feel that way around Him anymore), maybe it’s time to get to know Him better, and to remember who He really is!

From Sunday School lesson prepared for November 9, 2025

References:

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.

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