Thursday, July 21, 2005
John 20:19 Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.
PEACE
Jesus' first words to His assembled disciples were a common word of greeting, "Peace be with you." SHALOM. But now those words were far from common coming from the lips of the Risen Savior. Jesus did not merely wish them some external peace -- but rather gave them peace within.
Jesus had offered them His peace just 72 hours earlier, saying: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).
That was late on Thursday night . . . now it is Sunday evening. In between, He was crucified. He was offered. He laid down His life . . . to pay the terrible price of sin.
Now . . . on Easter evening, Jesus offers the very receipt, the evidence of the peace He won: "Look at my hands and my feet, your debt before God has been paid in full."
The peace Jesus gives doesn't change the world around us. This peace changes us within, removes our fear, even though trouble and danger still threaten, gives us peace by giving us faith's confidence, making us sure of our Lord's living presence and His victory over any danger which may threaten . . . even death.
For this is not merely a peace that chases stress and worldly anxiety; but a peace of heart and mind that comes from the message of sins forgiven.
This peace is nothing else than that the heart is certain that it has a merciful God and the forgiveness of sins, for without this it can neither stand in the time of need and danger, nor be satisfied by any earthly fortune. - Martin Luther
