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."…John:20:19-21 

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Disciples are gathered together , uncertain as to the events that have transpired involving their master, not really knowing what to or where to go, they find themselves gathered together in fear and doubt.

 It has been reported that Jesus' body is gone from the tomb in which he had been laid and some of the woman in their group have reported seeing Jesus alive.

 Peace

It is then when the Disciples are behind locked doors and amidst all their fear and bewilderment 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

Thru the evidence of his wounds Jesus is identified to his Disciples and their fear dispelled , they knew that Jesus was dead, they 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 he stands before them alive with out question and Jesus declares 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 not just true for believers for those Disciples but for all believers down thru the ages and for any and all who ill 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

Thur the sacrifice of Jesus, his death upon the cross, death and now his Resurrection, Jesus has accomplished our atonement, redemption and salvation , making peace for us in his own self, that is in  him 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. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote regarding Jesus' work of that of  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 peoples minds their sins and the need for a Savior.

"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 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. His 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 that left the people always at unrest,  with out 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.

Jesus however, did what all those sacrifices could never had done, he alone dealt with all human sin in his own person revolving once and for all the issue and 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"  by Christ and for us of entering into peace thru Jesus is depicted  thru the setting 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, that is the work of our salvation is complete in and thru him we are by and thru 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 appears among the frighten Disciples 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 is not just attempting to calm their fears which they had at that moment he 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 thru his actions, "I have made peace for you", therefore you can be at peace".

Even as Jesus intoned peace to those Disciples two thousand years ago,  he still speaks the same peace to believers down thru the age and to us even today. Jesus manifested his presences among them when they were gathered together. He still manifest himself when Christians gather themselves together for worship, prayer and fellowship.

 Jesus is there among us,  and thru the proclamation of the word of God he speaks peace to us.  God , the Holy Trinity , speaks to us thru his 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

Thru the word of God peace is declared upon each and all who will but freely receive it  thru Jesus Christ.This is the peace which Jesus promised his Disciples thru out the ages,  a peace of knowing that sin has been dealt with. It is Jesus' very own peace which he has as the Son of God and he 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 he spoke 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 nu-rest.

This is a message of Easter,  peace has been made for you with God  thru our High Priest Jesus Christ who has sat down at the right hand of the Father, therefore Jesus declares to each and to all of us "Peace be with you"...Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor 

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

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