Peace Be With You

Audio version here: https://youtu.be/fAZakuDbGtY?si=bFKG4zUFp3N3Vg_Q

4-7-24

Hoonah-Hadley

John 20:19-31

Call to Worship Psalm 133

Daily Verse John 20:19

John 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.’”  We have before us this morning the account of the risen Savior, the resurrected Christ appearing for the first time before the disciples.  These verses in the Gospel of John are a reminder of the vast, rich, living, eternal nature of Gods word, written for us that we might believe in Him who was crucified, raised from the dead and lives on our behalf, that we might join Him and other believers in God’s mission throughout the world.  Fitting to these verses maybe the most recent NCAA Division 1 wrestling National Championship Tournament. These young men are among the fittest, most athletic people on the planet, disciplined in mind, body, and in some cases, spirit. The wrestling tournament concluding on a Saturday evening is the end of the season for these young men, coaches, family and fans. The season is a long hard battle, more often than not, leaving these men with physical injuries and mental fatigue. There are some extraordinary stories about overcoming great odds to compete in this tournament and in some cases win a National Championship. Penn States coach, which won the team title by a long shot, was asked what was next, he said, we’re wrestlers, it’s what we do, we’ll be in the gym on Monday. Vs. 19 “…being the first day of the week…Jesus came…”

-2-

First things first, Jesus wastes no time being about His Father’s business. The Triumphal entry, The Last Supper, The Crucifixion, The Empty Tomb, the conversation with Mary Magdalane, and now the Risen Savior stands in the midst of His disciples behind closed doors “the first day of the week.” The prophecy of old is playing itself out in the new. What Jesus said He would do He does. Luke 24:6-7 “Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”  In Matthew 28 the angel tells the women to go and tell the disciples that He is risen from the dead.  Vs. 7 “…and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”  The women do as they were told, Jesus fulfills prophecy and we have before us Jesus holding court behind closed doors “where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”  As this sermon is being crafted by the Almighty early in the morning while it is still dark out, my phone vibrated, a message from a brother in Christ was suddenly awakened with a nightmare. My reply: “John 20:19”. His response: “I’m praying for peace through this.” Fear is a liar. Jesus comes into our midst to settle the score. During a trip to the Holy Land in 1865 Pastor Phillips Brooks went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve and worshipped there. He was so deeply moved by this experience he penned the famous hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. “…yet in the dark streets shineth the everlasting Light—the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight…O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth…and peace to men on earth.” 

-3-

Luke 2:13-14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”  It is not unusual to have Christmas sermons preached at Easter, or vice versa, Easter sermons given at Christmas. Through and through the gospel message is one of peace. Peace is one of the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace…”  Humanity suffers from many things, the list is a long one, unrest and fear are common and abundant. God knowing our fallen nature and the devils gift of keeping us up at night, sends us His Son by way of a manger and an empty tomb. Isaiah 26:3 “You shall keep them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.” We can only suggest you put this one on your door frame and write it on the tablet of your heart. Should you carry anything around with you throughout your lifetime, few would be as profitable as Isaiah 26:3.  When Jesus says, “Peace be with you”, it’s what He does, it’s who He is, it is His to offer and He does so generously and without bounds. “Where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.” If we said the world has lost its mind we’d likely find little argument there. The flesh would have us buying the lie, living in fear, and it does a pretty good job of it. In fact, it’s a billion dollar business in more ways than one. Fear is one of, if not the main cause of war, sickness, disease, death, pharmaceuticals, firearms, and security cameras. Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth and do not sell it.” Jesus Christ is the truth, in His birth, life, death and resurrection. And through it all He carries with Him “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 4:7) It will guard your heart and mind.

-4-

God knows our disposition for fear and anxiety and our desperate need for peace. This is one of the reasons Christ repeats “Peace be with you” and “peace to you” 3 times in our lesson this morning. Because Christ is unchanging and because He lives, what He did, He will do. As He came to His disciples in days of old, He comes to us in our time of need. Jesus Christ presence in our lives is very real, timely and purposeful.  John 20:21 “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’”

As a reminder, our God is a God of order, He gives us a thing to prepare us for the next thing. In other words, what He is saying is, receive this gift of peace, though you are undeserving you need it in your current state of fear and guilt, but even more so, you will need it as I send you out into the world to proclaim the good news. This is a critical lesson our Lord teaches us as His word will not return to Him void, but it will accomplish what He pleases, it will profit in the thing for which He sent it. (Isaiah 55:11) The Lord was ever about His Fathers business, we are that business, and as His Father sent Him, He also sends us.  And when we go out to fulfill His mission and purpose through us, we can trust this peace He offers is a critical part of that mission. The gift of this peace is found in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The disciple were hiding behind closed doors, in fear and shame. They had forsaken the Lord and in Peter’s case, rejected Him. What’s reasonable here is condemnation, in the least a scolding, but as the wrestlers return to the mat our Lord returns to our undeserving hearts, with mercy, grace and love, bearing peace, His peace.

Receive the gift, you’re going to need it.

Amen.