When we think about ‘Peace’ we may well think of peace between nations, peace as the absence of war; peace between people, peace in our own hearts – generally we don’t think of peace as something that can turn up when we’re terrified, much as we might hope for it – and yet this morning, we have heard Luke’s account of Jesus’ appearance (Luke 24:36-49) after the resurrection. It was a sight that brought incredible fear, yet a sight that would transform these disciples forever…
The disciples were frightened – in their position I think I may have been as well ! Jesus was dead, but now was alive and there with them – they are understandably stunned, they must have been doubting their own sanity, and Jesus recognised this, and so, seeing that their reaction to his greeting of ‘Peace’ really hadn’t brought them any peace, he asked for something to eat. They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it in front of them – it almost seems bizarre and yet, this act showed that Jesus was there, a real person, in the midst of them… Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.
And Jesus went on to say that this shouldn’t have been a shock to them. He reminded them that everything written about him in the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms had to be fulfilled - his suffering, his death and his resurrection. And now, as Jesus prepared to leave them in body at least, he also reminded them that he was not leaving them alone – they were to wait in the city until they were filled with the Holy Spirit – and sent out to share the gospel message – Jesus is alive !
Today Jesus still greets his followers with that simple greeting, ‘Peace be with you’, because he has given us everything necessary for peace, but perhaps like those early followers, we’re not always very good at accepting his offer. 20 years ago, the New York Times wrote that during the last 3,400 years there had been only 268 years of peace in spite of good peace treaties. In the last 3 centuries there have been 286 wars on the continent of Europe alone. The definition being used for war is a conflict that has claimed more than 1,000 lives… It’s quite a sobering fact, but as we look around us today, it’s all too easy to see conflict…
And it would be wonderful to say that we do much better in our own lives, but the reality is that all of us have fallen out with people, argued, said things we shouldn’t have, held grudges, dwelt on things that happened a long time ago, or perhaps simply failed to find peace in our hearts because we haven’t been prepared to cast our troubles and worries onto God as he asked us to…
And yet Jesus says, ‘Peace’. It can be a glib word, a word that we perhaps brush over so easily, but one which should be felt in every part of our lives. In 1555, Nicholas Ridley was burned at the stake because of his witness for Christ. On the night before Ridley's execution, his brother offered to remain with him in the prison chamber to be of assistance and comfort.
Nicholas declined the offer and replied that he meant to go to bed and sleep as quietly as he ever had in his life… Because he knew the peace of God, he could rest in the strength of the everlasting arms of God – arms that would calm him, strengthen him – arms that brought him peace. It was a remarkable display of faith…
And so how do we find this peace of God that can so wonderfully transform our lives ? The only way is through a decision that we make to trust God with our lives. In Church we often talk about trust and about faith, but trust and faith are ultimately about far more than just talk – they are about doing.
Martin Luther King described faith as taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. And that is the faith that we are called to practice in a world where we are often encouraged to rely only on ourselves. We may not know where God is leading us, but we will know his peace if we trust him… He has promised never to leave us…
God never intended us to be alone. He never intended us to try and have to find our own way of living and surviving. As he left the disciples he promised them a helper – the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who gave those early followers the courage to go out and preach about Jesus, risen from the dead. It was the Holy Spirit who gave them the words to say – often uneducated people speaking to educated, yet with words of wisdom that could come only from God.
And whilst the Holy Spirit is absolutely enough for us, God went further because he offered us each other. He offered a family of faith, a family committed to trying to live out the teaching of Jesus…
All of the teaching that Jesus offered as well as the example that he offered, revealed a man dedicated to building up a fellowship of believers who would support and sustain each other. The Church is the body of Christ on earth, and it is the family of Christ on earth. We join together in worship as brothers and sisters, and this relationship must be taken into every part of our lives – lives lived as part of the family of God.
The Peace that Jesus offers to his followers is an all embracing peace, peace like Nicholas Ridley knew as he waited to die. But Peace in the world is not just a concept to talk about, it is an aim to be targeted, and it must begin much closer to home with peace in our own hearts, and in our thoughts, and in our actions.
Over this Easter season we especially celebrate Jesus risen from the dead, but we go much further as we celebrate his triumph over death, his victory over darkness, and the assurance of his constant presence alongside us all of the time.
The peace of God, the peace that is beyond our understanding, is what Jesus offers. But as he does so, we choose to limit his power by our willingness to accept that peace. God constantly asks us to make choices and he doesn’t force peace on us, but we are invited to enter more closely into a relationship with him – a relationship which changes every part of our lives and offers, in every circumstance, peace.
C S Lewis said that ‘we regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it’s there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it…’
That could well be true, but if it is, if that is how we treat God, then we will never feel the amazing, limitless benefits of his peace; we will never truly know lives lived in abundance; and we will never have the assurance that whatever we have to face, good or bad, we will never be alone. Faith is taking a step with God when we don’t know exactly where the step will lead, but it is also knowing that it is absolutely the right step….
God isn’t to be used like a parachute, but known as a constant companion on our journey of life…
Centring our lives on God, may we know the power of creation all around us, may we feel the love of Jesus and may we be inspired by the Holy Spirit to step out and be part of God’s work and may we enjoy, TRULY ENJOY, his peace always. AMEN
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