20:19 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 with you.”
Peace - It is a common word. As
far back as I can remember the world has been in search of peace. In my
elementary school we celebrated World Peace Day every year. Now called
International Peace Day it falls on September 21st. More than anywhere else the
world's focus for peace and peace talks seems to center around the Middle East.
Ironically whether you subscribe to the Biblical account of creation, theistic
evolution, or even atheistic evolution, everyone agrees that human civilization
began in Mesopotamia, the fertile crescent, the heart of the Middle East.
In other words the place where
humans have lived the longest is the furthest from finding peace. I'll let you
ponder that reality...
The Bible speaks lots about peace.
Just to give you some perspective the word hate occurs 172 times in the Bible.
The word love can be found 500 times and peace occurs 397 times.
Some of the references to peace
are unexpected. In Matthew 10 Jesus told His followers "Do not think I
came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a
sword." Paul speaks of "a peace that passes understanding."
John has some key things to say
about peace from the lips of Jesus. Here are a couple of them:
John 14:27 "Peace I leave
with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 16:33 "These things I
have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Take careful note that both of
these significant statements were made to His disciples the night before He
died. Is it a coincidence that He went to His death speaking about peace to His
followers and then the first thing He says after His resurrection is
"Peace be with you."? In fact He will repeat it twice more before
this brief time with them is over.
So what's going on? Jesus says He
came to bring a sword and not peace. He said in this world we will have
trouble. How can we have peace if He came to bring a sword and guaranteed a
life of trouble?
It's a key question. It's a
question He wants us to ask. If you are familiar with Jesus at all you know He
makes provocative statements, even apparently contradictory statements.
Here's why: There are two very
different kinds of peace. The first is the peace of agreement. As long as we
all agree there is peace. This is why when there is no agreement and no peace
as a result the two sides that are in conflict are brought to a common table
usually with a third party present to enter into peace talks. The goal though
usually elusive is simple. You talk until agreement is reached and peace is
restored. Not only is this kind of peace elusive, it can also be deceptive.
History is full of examples where people were in peaceful agreement that lead
to trouble. Slavery is a huge example. The majority agreed that it was OK.
There was peace about it for a long time. Peace for the owners that is but
peace built on evil will only lead to trouble.
Tomorrow we'll explore what Jesus
meant when He said He came to bring a sword and not peace. See you then...
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