Convincing Proof - Peace

We are ready to be partakers in convincing resurrection proofs, as followers of Jesus, during those almost six weeks, before His Ascension. We note and acknowledge, even before we begin to receive more, these unarguable facts about our Risen Lord. He was the One who wanted His disciples to know, beyond any doubt whatsoever, that He was not just risen, but that He rose in Body – flesh and bones – able to fellowship with them as Friend with friend. He was the Person who made the first move in providing resurrection proofs to His disciples.

Having been encouraged to ponder upon some actions of Jesus after His Resurrection, I know that many of us are as hungry, thirsty people, waiting to feed and drink all that our Lord has planned for us. We too want to receive, not in part, but fully, all that Jesus has served His disciples, when He appeared to them during those almost six weeks of proving that He was really living.

As was stated, Jesus left them, as a serving Lord and Master and has returned to them as a serving Lord, Master and Conquering King. As we advance, we too seek the spiritual capacity to receive all that we are being offered, in and through our risen Lord.

We are present on this occasion, when Jesus serves the downcast, dispirited, frightened disciples, His Peace. On the evening of the 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! John 20: 19. Jesus has just spoken Calming Peace upon His disciples, who are all a group of scared people. None can help the other, as all are behind locked doors, afraid to venture outside in the public light.

This is the picture of the Church, our Lord’s servants and leaders, people who had placed all their trust and faith in Him, but who have been devastatingly marred and scarred. Look! Fear, that which never had the opportunity to take hold of them in this way, while Jesus was alive and with them, now has taken a foothold. Fear and peace are enemies and can never ever coexist. One has to flee. You see, Peace is Jesus and Jesus is Peace. Peace is what Jesus served His disciples, just as He served them His authority, to go out and do His prescribed mission works. 

We recall the occasion when Jesus chose seventy of His followers, His disciples, and served them with His Power to preach about the Kingdom of God and to perform miracles in His Name. On that mission, Jesus also served them with His Peace, which they were to give to others. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace will rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. Luke 10: 5 – 6 KJV. What we are being reminded of is that Jesus’ Peace brings change, resurrection change to those who receive it. Jesus tells those thirty-five serving pairs of servants, that His spoken Peace will only rest on a house if, the son of peace, is there.

O what blessedness, to have a house on which the Lord’s Peace rests! O what a privilege, to have a temple on which the Lord’s peace dwells! On the opposite side; what a forfeiting of grace and goodness. Believe it or not, the absolute truth is that the peace of the Lord is not on a house, a temple of the Lord because it has not been served, offered or given Jesus’ Peace. The single reason for no peace is that there is pure, unadulterated rejection. Get this clear. Peace does not come like a bulldozer and clear away every fear. No! Peace must be welcomed, it must be accepted, if its resurrection change is to take place.

This is the Peace Jesus speaks to His disciples who are now living with fear and the evidence of fear. After serving them His Peace, Jesus then shows them the scars of His wounds. Miracle of transforming Peace! This is what we are shown. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. John 20: 20b. Peace is welcomed, for Jesus is welcomed.

Do you believe that Jesus still comes to His followers who are living lives behind locked doors, because of fear? Are you a disciple, a servant of Jesus, the Risen Lord, presently living a life of fear, intimidation and worry, because you fear what others might or can do to you? You fear that lies will be spread about you. You fear that you will be cut down as a fake and labelled as of the devil. You are afraid that you will be singled out and your ways and words held up to the letter of the law, so that you will be found highly wanting. 

Even now, in this moment, hear the voice of Jesus as He speaks to His scared disciples.  Peace be with you! Welcome Jesus! Welcome Peace and your heart and mind will know all fears gone. Live the joy of the Lord! He is the God of the living, not the dead!

May the Peace of Jesus jolt you to His reality, Spiritual reality, and remove all your deadness of thoughts, words and actions. Amen!