His resurrection brings peace [John 20:21]
What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ have to say to me personally, and how should it or does it affect the way I live, the way I believe and the way I respond to theological truth. Theories must have a solid base and a practical outworking, and to sing hymns and celebrate the raising from the dead of God’s own Son, ought to have more than the flavour of celebration.
What advantage then
“And Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!’…” It had been promised on the hills of Bethlehem, by angels singing in close harmony.[1] Now it has been secured from the restless fiends of hell. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.2 And “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” 3 There is the peace of reconciliation and the peace of realisation as we understand God’s perfect will towards us.
There is peace from spiritual and mental disturbance and from a quarrelsome spirit, which is the result of a reconcilable state between God and man, and man and man. Christ’s greeting in the closed room was more than a salutation it was a conveyance of ability. When God wishes something on or to us then His word is the event. Peace is lost when we cannot control a situation. When things are so far from our ability to master them, we lose the serenity that comes from our authority over circumstances. When Jesus rose from the dead he said in effect, the greatest uncontrollable circumstance has been conquered:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” [John 14:27]. “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” [Rom 16:20] – Amen.
The peace of Mended Dreams
The kingdom dream had died, but it had now been re-established in a new dimension. The Romans may remain, but Christ’s reign would know no end.4 Perhaps the word ‘modified’ should be used – modified dreams, for Christ was to set-up the kingdom, but not in their time or possibly ours. Until that time the disciples were encouraged to “watch and pray”5 and “live soberly”6 “looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”7
The greatest hope and disappointment rode side by side as Christ left the disciples in disarray as they looked unbelieving at the cross. Sometimes God confuses us by apparently shattering our aspirations as we see our answer die in anonymity. These disciples had lived for three years in the certain knowledge, or so they thought, that Jesus would bring in the new realm and reign of God. They dreamed, talked, sighed and looked for the coming kingdom, not realising that the kingdom had already come. They mistook the divine will, as we often do, because they were looking like we often do from a human viewpoint. We cannot cope with contradictions that dash our dreams like broken pottery – we find it almost impossible to put the jigsaw together, the colours and shapes are too disparate for sense.
The Peace of Final Destination
Jesus had proved that there was life after death, and that he would greet us on that eternal shore. He defied death and in rising over our greatest enemy left a candle to light the gloom of time’s termination. We know now that He has gone to furnish the mansions of Glory that need no doors for He can pass through them.8 People throughout the ages have wanted to talk to those who have gone on before them to the ‘other side.’ What awaits us in eternity, and is there life after death, forgiveness, love, joy peace and reconciliation? Is there thought and sensation?
The Peace of Eternal Presence
If Christ has gone through death then nothing can separate us from the love of God that is IN Christ Jesus. [Rom. 8:35ff]. He tasted death that we might never know its hold, and having raised up above the clutch of that inevitable and relentless foe, has confirmed that He will be with us in all circumstances [Heb. 13:5]. He will be with us always for there is no enemy greater than death, and he has conquered it conclusively [1 Cor. 15:20‑28]
[1] Luke 2:14
[22] Peter 3:14
[3] Galatians 5:22
[4] Revelation 1:17, 18
[5] Mark 13:33
[6] Titus 2:12
[7] Titus 2:13
[8] John 11:25, 14:1
