On that same evening (Resurrection Sunday), the followers gathered together behind locked doors in fear that some of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were still searching for them. Out of nowhere, Jesus appeared in the center of the room. May each one of you be at peace. As He was speaking, He revealed the wounds in His hands and side. The disciples began to celebrate as it sank in that they were really seeing the Lord. I give you the gift of peace. In the same way the Father sent Me, I am now sending you. John 20:19-21
Today it has been a week that Jesus took all sin onto and into Himself and suffered emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. Then willingly laid Himself on the cursed cross to pay for all those sins and their destruction with His own death and resurrection. And because of the resurrection we can now stop focusing on sin and death and focus on resurrection evidences that remind us that death was swollowed up in victory!
Today’s passage reminds us of something we often forget on Good Friday when we’re so focused on sin. He also died for our peace. Isaiah 53:5 reminds us that the punishment phyically, mentally and verbally He received purchased our peace. And oh, how we need His peace these days. There is so much trying to steal our peace menatlly, verbally and physically, but it has been paid for! All we have to do now is live in it no matter what we see, hear and feel. We have His peace and we can live and walk in it. But once again, this gift isn’t just for ourselves.
Look at what He told His disciples to do with His gift of peace on that first resurrection day; it was with that peace they were supposed ot go out into the world. And nothing has changed children of the Most High God. We are to go out into the midst of the chaos, upheaval, touble, crisis and destruction and bring His Gospel to them in peace. Isn’t that a novel idea, to bring peace into the midst of the storm, not to stir up the storm more. We have been enabled by His death, resurrection and Holy Spirit to bring peace to the world, but we can’t do that unless we experience it for ourselves first. Spend time with the Prince of Peace, in His presence, learn of Him and experience the peace that passes all understanding. A peace that truly has overcome the world.
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