Peace - test the water

Test the water

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

The sermon by Brian reflected on that he felt a sense of peace, or completeness at Christ Church and sometimes you have to test the water.

Sometimes we have disappointment in our lives and we think that things have gone wrong. He reflected on the disciples who were waiting on the Sunday at night and thought things had gone wrong perhaps, but Jesus appears to them and he says “Peace be with you” - Perhaps we need to focus on these words.

The disciples heard these words and gained new hope. Our HOPE group last week reflected on the healing ministry and one of the most telling comments was that the greatest healing that can take place could be to have peace of mind.

Money doesn’t bring us peace of mind, as the stories of many of the rich prove.

The Hebrew for Peace is shalom and the Jews used to great each other with shalom and used to say goodbye with shalom. Having the peace of Jesus was important for the early church as it should be for us.

St Paul says “let the peace of God rule in your heart”.

So stop fighting and let peace rule

As our service ends with

“The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and the love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: And the Blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.”