The Peace of Christ
What Jesus Offers—and What He Doesn’t—After the Resurrection
This is so, so critical. So critical. The appearances of Jesus post-resurrection are foundational for his people in understanding who he is now. We of course want to know and study all of the Bible and all of the gospels (Jesus’ life and ministry).
But these short chapters tell us a lot about his nature for us now. He has won over sinfulness and death. All that happened to him we’ve been reading about—the religious leaders’ scheming and lying, Herod & Pilate’s power-mongering, the brutality of the soldiers who destroyed his body—he’s shown that these people cannot hold him down. He’s come back from it all.
So how he comes after death is critical in understanding who he is and thus, who we are to be.
So…what’s the first thing he says or does when he shows up amidst all his disciples?
Peace be with you.
“Okay, cool, Jesus. Thank you! Peace be with you, too! Let’s go get Pilate! Let’s poke some holes in some Roman soldiers!”
Peace be with you.
“Yes! PEACE! Now let’s get redemption on those religious leaders!”
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven.
“Hmm…this isn’t the victory my inner soul is desiring. Where’s the vengeance?”
If you don’t forgive them…they aren’t forgiven.
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It really is critical to note Jesus’ posture here. John tells us that the disciples are huddled in fear of the authorities. And when their Savior—now victorious over all things—when that Savior shows up, he speaks peace.
How can Christ’s people seek to kill and destroy anything knowing their Lord is so postured in this situation? When has there ever been a more righteous opportunity or responsibility to show forth power against the evil things people have done than when the innocent, loving, healing Jesus was brutalized?
But that is not the resurrection playbook. In fact, none of the gospels have Jesus interacting with religious or political leaders after the resurrection. He simply shows up to comfort his loved ones and teach his disciples. (He does a lot of eating with them all as well, which is indeed notable.)
Who is this Christ we follow? What is he like?
…and how will we then live?
John 20:19-23
It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.”
Psalm 85:8-10
Let me hear what the Lord God says, because he speaks peace to his people and to his faithful ones. Don’t let them return to foolish ways. God’s salvation is very close to those who honor him so that his glory can live in our land. Faithful love and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed.
Prayer1
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio died just this morning. Many things will be said about Pope Francis. For one, he was as human as you and me. He often said so. But for another thing, in light of today’s passage and reflection, he strove for peace. For today’s prayer, we’re using his “Prayer for Peace.”
Amen