April 18, 2004 John 20:19-31
When you’re having a bad day, people love to encourage us with these little sayings like, “hang in there, it’ll be ok.” As you leave, people will say, “have a good one.” Whereas these trite expressions are spoken with good intentions, what good do they do? I can tell somebody who’s having a hard time at his job that “it’ll all work out,” but how do I know that? I can say to someone, “have a good day,” but I can’t make it happen. So what good does it do? Not much. It’s just a “cliche`” that we often use, when we don’t know what else to say.
Three times in our text for today, Jesus said, “peace be with you!” This was not just a trite expression or a sweet nothing. When Jesus says, “peace be with you,” it means much more. Jesus has the power to give you the peace that He wishes for you. So when Jesus says to you today, “Peace Be With You,” you can take it to heart.
Peace Be With You!
I. When you face fears and doubts
Jesus spoke these words originally to the disciples on the evening of his resurrection. It had been a strenuous weekend for them, to say the least. They had seen the rage of the Jews take it’s full course, as they sent Jesus to the cross for crimes He did not commit. They had to sit around for a whole day during the Sabbath, just thinking about what had happened, waiting to go back out to the tomb . . . anxious, worried, contemplating the future of their existence. Then once they had gotten out to the tomb, their dead master was not there. Rumor had it that He was actually alive, and had shown himself to the women and a few disciples. In spite of this they were still afraid. The same blood thirsty Jews who had come after their leader, were now coming after them. This meeting that they were having was forbidden. Yet they were willing to risk it all, even their own lives, just to meet together with their fellow believers. The only thing standing between them and death was a lock on a door. If I had to stake my life on a lock on a door, I would not be too secure. Anybody could have broken down that door. So they were living in fear. The Jews could come any minute, any second. They had no peace.
It was at this tense moment, that Jesus stepped into the picture and entered their room. Some say Jesus climbed up a ladder and through a window; or descended from the roof down a stairway; or sneaked into the house before the doors were locked; or slipped in when the two disciples from Emmaus were let in; or was allowed to come in through the connivance of the doorkeeper. All these agree in denying a miracle. Jesus didn’t find a secret entrance. Jesus miraculously appeared in the middle of the room out of nowhere and said, “Peace be with you.”
Only Jesus could pull this off. If somebody popped up in the middle of my bedroom at night and said, “peace be with you!”, I’d probably jump through the ceiling. But it wasn’t Jesus’ purpose to startle them. It was His purpose to assure them that he had everything under control. Once they saw who it was that was with them, they could rest easy. Jesus, their master, their leader, and as Thomas later on said, their “God”, was still with them, stronger than ever. They could rest easy knowing that Jesus was protecting them. They didn’t need to fear anything anymore. They could be at peace.
Have you locked your doors yet? Didn’t you hear that “gangs” are rising in Topeka - especially with the recent shootings that have been happening? If things keep on progressing we will run the risk of getting shot by just walking out of our front door. Even if you don’t have a credit card people can steal your identity and order credit cards - ruining your credit and your good name. If somebody trips on your sidewalk you could get sued. If you decide to get married, you have a fifty percent chance of getting divorced. This isn’t the worst of it. If America ends up high tailing it out of Iraq, I can guarantee you that the terrorists will be ever more emboldened to come over to America and unleash some more terror on us. Those same extremists who are kidnaping Americans in Iraq could be coming into your homes and taking you captive! Aren’t you afraid? You should be! Maybe it would be better if we just locked our doors and never went out into public, so someone doesn’t murder us, rape us, or steal our goods. Maybe America should lock down it’s borders so that no one can get in or out!
There are many reasons to be afraid. But at what point does it stop? We live in a sinful world. There are thousands of things we COULD worry about. There are thousands of things that COULD hurt us - not just terrorists or gang members. There is a point to being cautious. It’s fine to lock your doors. But where does God come into the picture? With all of this worrying, how often do we treat Jesus like He never rose from the grave. We treat Jesus like He was still dead. Every time you fear something, you’re telling Jesus, “you must be dead.” We act like the cowering disciples in fear of the Jews.
The main thing to remember is this- Jesus is alive and well. He’s living in your living room. He’s living at your school. Jesus is living with you at work. He’s in charge of Iraq, America, and every other country in the world. You may not be able to hear Him, but He’s saying, “Peace be with you! Relax, I’m here. I haven’t gone anywhere. Even if there is a nuclear war going on around you, there’s no reason to be afraid. I’m protecting you.” This is not a cliche`. This is not a nice saying that never comes true. This is not a politician telling you, “I’m protecting you.” This is your Almighty God who rose from the dead saying to you, “peace be with you.” The Almighty God is telling you to relax, it’s all ok. He’s got it all under control.
II. When Jesus reassures you of His Love
If Thomas had only believed that, he would have saved himself a week worth of worrying. But instead, he decided to become the person we now refer to every year as “doubting Thomas.” Instead of taking the others words of promise, telling him, “we saw and even felt Jesus!”, Thomas said, “I won’t believe it.” He was more than a doubting Thomas. He was an unbelieving Thomas. Even though he was one of the 12, he flat out refused to believe that Jesus had risen. So he put himself through a week of agony and worry. All because he needed to see it to believe it.
Think about how much trouble we put ourselves through because we doubt God. Let me ask you this - How many of you have not worried about money this year? How many of you have not worried about what is going to happen with the war in Iraq? How many of you have not worried about your health or your children or your future? Before any of us lambast Thomas, maybe we should look at ourselves. We cause ourselves ulcers, nights without sleep, and a thousand of other problems, all because we doubt that God is really in control. Just as I said with Thomas, this is more than doubt. This is unbelief.
But notice what Jesus did with Thomas’ unbelief. He didn’t scold Thomas. He didn’t say, “here, put your hand in my side, you heathen dog!” He didn’t shove his hands in Thomas face and say, “LOOK, now do you believe!” No, he gently reassured Thomas that everything was going to be ok. Jesus used a time of fear and a time of doubt, as an opportunity to reassure his disciples that everything was ok. He used it as an opportunity to promote His peace.
As Jesus showed the disciples his hands and side, He was sending them the greatest message of peace that He could have sent them. Jesus was offering them more than a security blanket. He was telling them, “look at my hands, I was just punished for the sins of the world. Look at my feet, I was just pierced for you. But death couldn’t hold me down. I have risen. God has accepted my sacrifice. You are forgiven. You’re saved. Now you can relax, because your sins are forgiven. Even if the Jews do break down this door and kill you, they won’t get your soul. Your soul is mine. You are going to heaven.” That was the peace that Jesus was offering them. It wasn’t just the peace of knowing that Jesus was alive again. It was the peace of knowing that their sins were forgiven. It was the peace of knowing that God had accepted His sacrifice.
That’s the same peace that Jesus offered Thomas as well. Thomas especially needed Jesus’ love at this moment. He had spent an extra week doubting whether Jesus was really alive. He spent an extra week unsure of whether his Savior and Master was really alive. So Jesus said to him, “I heard every word that you said. When you said, ‘I have to put my hand in his side, and touch his hands, or I won’t believe,’ I heard you. So here, put your hand in my side, and touch my hands. Stop doubting, and believe.” How Thomas must have felt like a fool - and yet how happy he must have been! Jesus, instead of just rebuking him, was lovingly restoring Thomas’ faith, and offering him the peace of mind, knowing that all of his doubts had been paid for on the cross.
This is the kind of assurance that we need as well, especially during these extremely evil times. As we have seen the murders on TV, the blatant adultery, and worse, and we have often wondered if God will protect us from it. We have been guilty of doubting God. We have been guilty of treating Jesus as if he were just a dead God. We fear for our lives, and we doubt if our sins are forgiven. But Jesus says to us, “there is no reason to be afraid. There is no reason to doubt my promises. I am risen.” Jesus died for our sins of doubt. He has risen from the grave. He has also raised us with Him. His Spirit now lives in us. He promises us that He - the LIVING God - will guard and protect us. So while the world gets worse and keeps getting worse - and becoming more hysterical - with the God given faith through the Holy Spirit we still have the peace of mind of knowing that we are still going to heaven.
III. When you hear the Word of God
Some people have this peace more than others. Some are more relaxed than others. Some, like Thomas - have a hard time believe Jesus is risen - God is in control. Like Thomas they say,“show me the PROOF you’re in control God! Wipe out the unbelievers! Establish a Millenial kingdom on earth! Show me some miracles!” So they wait, and wait, and wait. They wait for a miraculous change of events to happen in their life. They wait to see God produce some change in the world - for the stars to fall from the sky. And they die waiting. Why doesn’t Jesus comes to them, as He did to Thomas? Why doesn’t He give them peace?
Jesus has chosen a different way to approach us today. He doesn’t pop up in the middle of our living rooms to say, “peace be with you.” In our text for today, Jesus shows us two ways to find this peace that Jesus is offering to us. He says, if you want peace, listen to each other, and listen to my words. When Jesus said, “peace be with you,” for the second time, he told his disciples - If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. We don’t need Jesus to come and say, “peace be with you.” Every time you tell each other, “I forgive you,” you receive the peace of God, which passes all understanding. Instead of living in hatred with grudges, knowing that God forgives us in Christ, we also live in forgiveness and love. That’s what brings us peace.
We also have the Word of God to listen to and give us peace. We don’t need a miracle, as long as we have the Word. That’s why God gave us the Bible. John said, Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. The Bible has one purpose. We have the words of God, specifically chosen, to point us to one person - Jesus Christ. These words were written to show us that Jesus is the ruler of creation, in charge of all. He is the only source of peace and life. We find our peace in hearing the sweet words of Jesus tell us, “Peace be with you, you are forgiven.” So read your Scriptures if you want to find that peace. When you’re feeling troubled - open up your Psalms and actually read them. You don’t know until you’ve tried it how the Holy Spirit will work through those words to calm you down, reminding you of the fact that HE is in charge. Then Jesus says of you - blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Right now we are living in the middle of very troubled times. The balance of power in the Middle East could shape the future of the world. If terrorists regain control of Iraq and cooperate with Iran - we may have a war like none other - on American soil. The Islamic extremists could put an end to the civilized world as we know it. The next President can promise us all he wants that he has the right solutions to keep America safe. But that doesn’t mean we will be. Our own children may be called to war and die fighting for the freedoms we now have. Many of those freedoms may be lost. That’s the way life is. Nothing in this life is certain. We in America have enjoyed peace and freedom and taken it for granted. We’ve been spoiled in a sense. This is reality. Life isn’t always peaches and cream. It can get pretty bad - and it will get worse.
So how do we respond? Do we panic? Do we worry? Not at all. Instead, we go back to the upper room and say, “Jesus lives!” We look at Jesus’ hands and feet and say, “Jesus died for me.” We listen to Jesus say, “peace be with you.” This is God talking to you - the living God who rose from the dead and is ruling in heaven. When you believe that, you know that all of these material concerns aren’t worth all the worry, as long as Jesus has prepared a place for you in heaven. As Jesus gives you a taste of salvation in the forgiveness of sins and His resurrection, all of the sudden your worries over your children, house, job, and future don’t seem to matter as much. You start to feel relaxed. You are given the peace that Jesus is offering you. It isn’t a worldly peace. It’s a spiritual peace. A godly peace. God grant you that kind of peace today. Amen.
