The Road From the Cross Brings Peace
Over the last few weeks I have been on a journey - not a physical journey, but a journey TO the cross. In fact, I have followed Scripture beginning in John 13 and going through John 19, the cross of Jesus and then John 20, the resurrection of Jesus. Wow, what a journey!
Today, however, I am embarking on another journey - a journey FROM the cross. And I want to invite you to join me each Thursday on the journey through this blog series. I also invite you to bring some others along with you.
The road FROM the cross brings PEACE. In John 20:19 and following the Bible says, “Now when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were together due to fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
Now let’s get the scene in our minds. Jesus, crucified, dead, and resurrected three days later, is alive and appeared to Mary Magdalene. The first day of His resurrection is coming to an end, and the disciples are gathered together. And then it happens - Jesus appears! Right there, standing before them is their Friend, their Lord, and their Savior! Jesus spoke a simple phrase, “Peace be with you.” Jesus did not come to them to punish them, to scold them, or to embarrass them. Jesus came to them with the message of peace. The road FROM the cross brings PEACE! And along with that peace, Jesus gave them several other blessings.
Peace with Courage
With peace, Jesus gave them courage. The Bible says in vs. 19 that their doors were shut “for fear of the Jews.” Stories were rampant as to what happened to the body of Jesus, but the most notable story was that the disciples had stolen the body. They knew they were being sought after and hunted. Their fear is understandable. And then there was Jesus. Suddenly, their fear was met with courage, for they had seen the risen Lord. Whatever your fears are today, Jesus brings peace, and along with that peace, He brings courage.
Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
Peace with Confidence
With peace, Jesus also brought confidence. Confidence for what? Verse 21 says, “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Once again, Jesus offered peace - the peace they would need for the mission. The focus for peace this time was not on the fears they felt, it was on the mission Jesus gave them. Notice the end of verse 21, “as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” The life of Jesus Christ is not a life simply for our enjoyment and blessing; it is our life mission. And God’s peace gives us confidence for that mission.
Peace with Certainty
In verse 24, the Bible tells us that Thomas was not with the disciples, and upon hearing that they had met with Jesus, Thomas did not believe it. I suspect that Thomas wanted nothing more than to see what the disciples had already experienced; to see and to touch the nail prints of Jesus. For Thomas, it was not an ability issue, it was a faith issue. And for our own faith issues we have been given the peace of God. When we are uncertain in our belief, we can trust the peace-giving Son of God, Jesus. In whatever uncertainties you may be dealing with today, you can rest in God’s peace, which gives us a deeper faith.
The road FROM the cross brings peace, and today I encourage you to walk in that peace. To go deeper, I encourage you to read John 20:19-31.
See you next week on the road FROM the cross.