June 12, 2010

June 12, 2005 John 20
Peace is an elusive thing. On an international level we have found that to be true. Those of you who know your history remember that World War I was to be the war to end all wars. That was a cruel misconception. It only fueled WWII. Then came Korea, Vietnam and so on and so forth. There are constant conflicts world wide. We are in Iraq because we felt it necessary to protect ourselves from terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. Now, we wonder if we can ever get out again.
Peace on an interpersonal level is also an elusive thing. Divorce is so common now that many don’t even bother to marry. It has become an assumption that “incompatibility” will eventually become a problem. Peace even in the church seems to be a problem. Many denominations are fighting within themselves over issues that ought to be givens. Many churches are fighting within themselves over issues that ought not to be. Churches are increasingly getting rid of their pastors. Many are fighting personally against God and don’t even realize it.
Some years ago I was doing a 40-day fast. On the 26th day I began to experience a panic attack. You know the sensation that you get when some one scares you? That flush that seems to come from the gut and shoots up through your head? Your heart begins to race, and you have an intense desire to run but don’t know where to run to? Well, that was happening to me; only, it wouldn’t stop. I thought I was going nuts. I immediately ceased the fast. But it took me months to get over it. I had a few more attacks in the coming weeks. I only recently have discovered that it wasn’t the fasting alone that caused the problem. I was getting a cold and had taken some pseudoephedrine hydrochloride to help overcome the symptoms—in my weakened fasting state the pseudoephedrine is what triggered the attack. I had no peace or months. Personal is a problem. Sometimes our biggest enemy is ourselves.
When Jesus rose from the dead, to what did He rise? One disciple had betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. When the time of prayer came, the disciples all fell asleep. All of the disciples had run in terror to hide when push came to shove. One disciple publicly denied even knowing Him. The masses had called for His crucifixion. His own Father forsook Him on the cross. Another disciple refused to believe the testimony of others of His resurrection. All of the disciples refused to obey His pre-crucifixion command to go to Galilee to meet Him there. I don’t know about you, but if I were Jesus, I’d be a lot disgruntled. Yet, He was not.
Three times after His resurrection, He communicates peace to His followers. Once He communicated peace to the fearful disciples as they huddled in the upper room, hiding from possible arrest and execution by the religious leaders. Suddenly, He stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Once it had settled in that this was not an apparition but Jesus Himself, He told them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also sent you.” Thomas missed that meeting. Jesus appeared to them again when Thomas was with them and said, “Peace to you!” That is the glory of Jesus! He is always working to bring us to peace with God, peace within our own psyche and peace with each other, even though we do not believe Him.
Are you lacking peace today? The glory of Jesus is that He has worked and is working to bring that peace to you and eventually to the world. Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John