Peace of Easter

Peace- John 20:19-23

 

    All of us long for peace in our personal lives as well as in our world.  In this world we do not see it.  Instead we read of wars breaking out, conflicts that you and I can name as we pick up the papers.  Nearer to home , peace in our families seems difficult or uncommon.  Family abuse, violence, separation and divorce are all common, and none of us is unaffected by it. 

 

     On the Resurrection day, Jesus said it two times, v. 19 and v. 21 “ Peace be with you”  “ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘ Peace be unto you.’  ( the original work is eirene which we get our word irenic which means peaceful)  This peace is given by the blood of the Cross.  Jesus gives us His peace which is not as the world gives, that is temporary peace.  It is eternal peace and personal peace as well.

I.  Peace

    1.  His peace does not go away.  It lasts forever. Verse 20 tells us the cost. “ Now when he had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.” Nail driven hands, and a spear had pierced His side thrust in by the Soldiers ( 19:34) The Apostle Paul said it this way, “ therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”   This peace is at a heavy price.  The Civil War purchased the freedom of 4 million slaves, but the cost for the Union Army was a casualty rate of all other wars combined plus Viet Nam.  This peace is for us and for our eternal life. 

 

2.     But not only an eternal peace, but a personal spiritual peace is granted to us .  14:27 “ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  20:19 The disciples had shut the door for fear of the Jews.  How is that we may not always feel peaceful in our own lives?  We must take the gift of eternal life and then allow God’s peace through Christ to permeate our lives.  This is a process we call sanctification  ( the other one is called justification)  Even those of us who are Christians can seem to miss out on that peace of God.  Isaiah 26:3 “ You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”  In the middle of the storm at sea Matthew 14:27 we hear, “ be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

 

    God has taken care of our needs. He provides us His peace to get through life; family separation ( here I remember several times when I was deployed in the army, two separate years in Korea), loneliness, depression, guilt; whatever heartaches we are experiencing, or have experienced , God says He will never leave us or forsake us.  That marvelous collect/prayer that we pray every day in Evening Prayer says it:

 

“ O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”  Amen.

 

II. Peacemakers

 

The second half of this Gospel verses 21-23 shows that we have received peace so that we may be peaceful peacemakers.  Then Jesus said to them again, “  Peace to you!”  “ As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”  “ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,’ Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. ‘ ”

 

“ As my Father has sent me, even so send I you.”  For what?  To tell others that their sins can be forgiven, absolved.  We should pass this peace.

 

1.     Pass the peace of eternal life. Mark 1:17 “ I will make you fishers of men.”  Share with others.  20:31 “ And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing ye might have eternal life.” The miracles and signs are meant to draw us to faith that Jesus did. Share this with others and our story too has we have been changed so that others too may believe. “ Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 

As we do this we make sure we are not in the way of God’s message. Sometimes what we say can be interrupted by what we do. If our lives are not expressing and showing God’s peace, then we will be an interruption, not a help to others. So examine ourselves.

 

2.     Pass the peace in our relationships.  Matthew 18:21-25 Forgive all who have wronged us.  “ if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother….” Vs 21 “ Peter came to him and said ‘ Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘ I do not say to you, up to seven tmes, but up to seventy times seven.’”

 

We are all sent and we need to fill in the blank for what our mission is in our lives and what the Father has sent us for through His Son Jesus Christ.  Do something for the least. Matthew 25: 31-46 and vs 40 “ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

 

Conclusion- Do you and I have peace? The eternal peace which Jesus gives to those who believe in Him by the Holy Spirit?

 

The focused and untroubled heart, which only He can give, not as the world gives?

 

Through His sacrifice, He has purchased it for us.  Are you and I sharing this peace with those who need it around us?