Christ’s Gift of Peace (Part Three)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19 NAB)

Jesus words, “Peace be with you,” spoken to his disciples as he came to them following his resurrection were words of comfort and calling as we have previously seen. But were these words only for them? Of course, there was never a more fitting time for these words to be spoken as the risen Lord appeared to frightened and dejected followers. However, as we recount the story in all its wonder, I am convinced that John, the gospel writer, is inviting us into the story to hear and receive this word of peace spoken by our Lord upon his resurrection. Jesus’ word and gift of peace is still being extended through the centuries. May we hear it and receive it today.
As we hear and receive our Lord’s greeting and gift of peace, may we take not only great comfort from him and in the word he gives, may we receive our calling to peace today. Hence, Jesus’ word of peace bids us from reception to going forward in a life of participation in the peace of our Lord. As Jesus’ followers today, we are entrusted with a great calling to receive his words of peace as our defining vocation for life. As Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus:

     “For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one, and has 
     broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” (Ephesians 2:14 NRSV)

Here we have the meaning of the cross of Jesus in its vastness and immensity. Jesus’ resurrection is the announcement of this peace pointing to the beginning of new creation. For Jesus’ followers, everything has changed! God is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). In Christ, God has established the truth and the way of peace. Here is our calling to make this known in message and activity, in attitude and action. The followers of Jesus today have, as their call, to make known, to display this new and joyful reality as the way of God’s kingdom.
However, we must be clear; Christ’s peace transcends coercive or conditional peace. We ever need be reminded that on the eve of his death, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27 NRSV)

The peace the world gives is a coercive and conditional peace. It is the peace practiced by nations, organizations, groups, and in relationships from friends to family. It’s the peace that says, “As long as you do things my way there will be peace.” This is the antithesis of Christ’s peace. Moreover, we must realize that though the peace of Christ comes as an inner peace, it is never to be solely defined in this way. Christ’s peace is meant for all of us—for all creation. It is the peace by which we are bound to God and to one another. While this may, on the face of it, seem idealistic at best and folly at worst, this is the reality that God has established and is bringing about through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is at the heart of God’s new creation that he is bringing about even now.
So dear ones, may we live in and with this gift of Christ’s peace. May we do so as recipients and as those called by him to make his peace known. May we do so because we are his and as such, because this is truly the way things are.
“Peace be with you.”

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