Meditation on Jesus and Peace

John 20:19-21 (HCSB) 

19 In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”20 Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

In our fear, we lock our doors. We try to protect ourselves. God in His grace passes by our protection to bring us peace. Wholeness.  

Jesus builds our faith in order to build our peace. Faith conquers fear. Doubt and fear are brothers. When we doubt God we fear the world. When we trust God there is no fear. When there is no fear, we are able to receive peace. 

Peace doesn't move us to stillness, but to action. Peace! I send you. You have locked your doors in fear. In peace unlock them and move into the world you feared. Carry the same message that brought you peace to those you feared. They fear, too. They have their own locked doors, their own protections. You must move past them as I moved past yours. 

Only whole persons can carry the Gospel. Jesus was whole, but in His hands and side were marks of brokenness. We can carry the marks of brokenness yet be whole. The scar that mars is itself testimony of healing. 

We live this out imperfectly, I know. But let's live it. Let's show our hands and sides to others. Let our peace empower us to expose ourselves, even as we expose others to the light of the gospel. Let the peace of Christ dwell in us, and let us be ministers of peace in Jesus name.