"So
when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors
were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." And when He had
said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So, Jesus said to them again, "Peace be
with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."…Jhn:20:19-21
After
the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Disciples were gathered
together uncertain as to the events which had transpired involving their
friend and teacher Jesus, not really knowing what to do or where to go. They
find themselves gathered together in fear and doubt.
It
had been reported that Jesus' body was gone from the tomb in which he had been
laid and some of the woman in their group had reported seeing Jesus alive.
Peace
It is
then, when the Disciples are behind locked doors amidst all their fear and bewilderment,
that Jesus himself appears among them. Jesus' first words to the
frighten Disciples are these "peace be with you". Then
to calm the fears and amazement of the Disciples , Jesus shows them that it is he
himself and no apparition. They can be at peace.
"On
the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together,
with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them
his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." Jhn: 20:19-20
Through the evidence of his wounds Jesus is
identified to his Disciples and their fears are dispelled. Each of them knew
that Jesus was dead. They had witnessed his death upon the cross. They
saw his lifeless body placed in the Tomb, they saw the stone rolled
across the entrance, and now, here Jesus stands before them alive declaring to
them "Peace be with you”.He is
Our Peace
Those
Disciples who were the first witness of the Resurrected Jesus on that first
Easter evening could be at peace, because Jesus is Resurrected. This is
not only true for those Disciples there in the upper room, but for all
believers down through the ages and for any and all who will but freely receive
it.
"But
now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the
blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into
one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,by abolishing in His flesh
the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that
in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace," Eph:2:13-15
Through
the sacrifice of Jesus, his death upon the cross, and now his Resurrection,
Jesus has accomplished our atonement, redemption and salvation, making peace
for us in his own self, that is, in Jesus, we each and all who will freely
receive it can be at peace.
Our
sins have been dealt with. There is nothing to prevent any of us from
experiencing eternal life, but our own unwillingness to receive it when we hear
the Gospel message preached.
What
Ceremonies Could Not Do
Jesus
has done what no law or body of sacrificial ceremonies could do, he has brought
about our forgiveness and long with-it salvation. That is what the cross has
done, it has moved the eternal decree of God that we can experience his
forgiveness into our lives. The cross is the eternal decree of God being worked
out of the eternal into the temporal so that we might take hold of what God has
decreed for us.
The
author of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote, regarding Jesus' work of
being our High Priest and the finished work of salvation.
"The
law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.
For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year
after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they
not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed
once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those
sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of
bulls and goats to take away sins." Heb:
10:1-4
Under
the Old Covenant the Priest would offer sacrifices daily in the Temple of God
at Jerusalem for the people, but these works could never take away the sin.
These ceremonies served as an ongoing reminder of our need for a Savior.
Standing
High Priest
The
author of Hebrews tells us that the Priest would "stand daily"
and minister at the Temple offering sacrifices for the people of
Israel.
"Day
after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and
again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins" Heb:10:11
But
these sacrifices could never "take away" sin, they left the issue of
sin unresolved in the lives of the people. The people could never be at peace,
at best, these offerings kept in the forefront of the people’s minds their sins
and the need for a Savior. The daily scarifies did not bring transformation to
the human heart and mind.
"For
this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after
year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not
have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once
for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those
sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of
bulls and goats to take away sins."Heb:10:1-4
This
is why the Levitical High Priest is said to "stand daily", that
is, the work of the Priesthood could not resolve the sin issue and bring peace
to the people. The Priest's work was never done.
A
Sitting Priest
This
was never God's desire for humanity. God did not want humanity to be encumbered
by a system of religion and the Covenant which enjoined those sacrifices which
never resolved the sin issue which left the people always at
unrest, without peace.
"Sacrifice
and offering you did not desire,
but a
body you prepared for me;
with
burnt offerings and sin offerings you
were not pleased."Heb:10:5b-6
The
Great God, the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit wants us to be at
peace and not under a "religion" of "works" that
could not resolve our issues of sin leaving humanity in a state of unrest
without real peace.
Jesus
however, did what all those sacrifices could never have done, Jesus alone dealt
with all human sin in his own person resolving once and for all the issue of
sin , which has from the very beginning kept humanity without peace. This
was, and is, the will of God that we might be at peace.
"Then
he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to
establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the
sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."(9-10)
This
complete putting an end to works based religion, that is "sacrifices and
offering" through Jesus, is so that we might enter into peace through
Jesus, it is depicted by the sitting down of our Lord Jesus Christ at the
right hand of God the Father.
"But
when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of God, that time he waits for his enemies to be made his
footstool. by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being
made holy." (12-14)
Jesus
is sitting down for us, this means that the work of our salvation is complete
in and through him. We are by and through Jesus made "perfect forever"
. The issue of sin is resolved , there is no regression of us in the eyes
of God in relation to sin. That is how complete the work of Jesus is
on our behalf.
Jesus
is sitting, it is accomplished, we can be at peace, with God and with
ourselves and with one another.
Speaks
Peace
When
Jesus appeared among the frighten Disciples on that first Easter
evening, the very first words he speaks to them, and to
us, is "peace be with you". Jesus wanted them, and
we, to know that he has made peace for us.
Jesus
is not just attempting to calm their fears which they had at that moment ,
Jesus is declaring what he has done for them and all of us.
Jesus
shows them his wounds, not just to be identified by, but as
evidence and reason that we all can be at peace. Jesus is saying
through his actions, "I have made peace for you", therefore
you can be at peace".
Even as Jesus spoke peace to those Disciples two
thousand years ago, he still speaks the same peace to believers down
through the ages and to us even today. Jesus manifested his presence among the
Disciples when they were gathered together and Jesus
still manifest himself among us when Christians gather together for worship,
prayer and fellowship.
Jesus
is there among us, and through the proclamation of the word of God he
speaks peace to us. God, the Holy Trinity, Father. Son and Holy Spirit
speaks to us through the Son the second person of the Trinity so that we might
hear that we have peace.
"
I will hear what the Lord God will speak; For he will speak peace unto his
people, and to his saints:"Ps:85:8a
Through
the word of God peace is declared upon each and all who will but freely receive
it through Jesus Christ. This is the peace which Jesus promised his
Disciples throughout the age. It is the peace of knowing that sin has been
dealt with. It is Jesus' very own peace which he has as the Son of God lives
and shares it with us.
"Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."Jhn:14:27
This
is the same peace Jesus spoke of to the Disciples and continues to speak to
each and all of us. This peace defies circumstance and conditions it is Jesus'
own peace.
"Peace
be With You"
Jesus
is there even now, showing us his wounds; telling each and all of us that
we can be at peace. Sin has been dealt with. We need not be in a state of
un-rest or fear.
This
is a message of Easter, peace has been made for you with God through
our High Priest Jesus Christ he lives and has sat down at the right hand of the
Father, therefore Jesus declares to each and to all of us "Peace be
with you"...
Benediction: May we each and all be at peace all because of our
Lord Jesus Christ lives, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
“If Its Not About Jesus, Its Not About Anything!”
