Communion With the Christ:: Easter: "Peace Be With You"

"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.