The Instrument of Peace

Introduction

There is a tendency in us that as we come to Easter and we read of the Passion and the Resurrection, we worship and celebrate that incomprehensible gift that Jesus sacrificed for us, we hit a climax of jubilation over the love Jesus has for us that we tend to park in that peace.

With every great climax in life, as we come off the mountain there is a direction we must go.

Think for a moment about what I am saying.

When we read “eli eli lama sabachthani”, the words of Jesus, it is finished we think just that. The question is. “was it really all over?” Jesus was finished once and for all with the crucifixion and the resurrection, but by no means was His job or mission complete.

Think about this for a moment. If it were totally finished, He would have ascended back to heaven right then.

For example, we must remember In Matthew’s account, post the resurrection there are three subsections left in Chapter 28 to complete Matthew’s gospel account. In Mark’s account, there are three subsections in Mark 16 left to complete the Gospel account after the empty tomb scene.

In Luke the Physician’s gospel, there are 5 subsections left after the empty tomb scene in Luke 24. Interestingly, in John the Beloved’s account, John 20, there are three subsections remaining plus the entirety of Chapter 21.

You may ask the question, why is that information important? Simply put, the story isn’t finished. I will remind you that there are 23 other books of the Bible that were written. The four gospel accounts are the birth of the NT.

Easter was not the finish, but the ignition for Jesus’ mission to really catch fire. The wind that carried that fire was at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the believer.

Jesus’ crucifixion was finished, but His mission was in its infancy. Had His mission been complete, there would be no more holy writings past His resurrection. And most importantly, had you and I gone through what Jesus went through, there is no way that we would have lingered where the world had just crucified us.

We would have gone back to the luxuries and the peace and the security of heaven if people treated us like they did Jesus. Thank your God that Jesus came back to insure a passing of the baton for the disciples to carry on the mission.

Listen to the last few verses of John 20 and John is where we will study this morning.

John 20:29–31 NKJV

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Consider a sad commentary. Had Jesus died and sacrificed His life as a “ransom for many” and no one shared of that news, you or I would not be saved today. Jesus came back and reunited with the disciples to insure they were ready to accept their assignments of sharing the Good News. Listen closely, Jesus blessed gift of life is only of value to those that believe and know the Good news. Dearly beloved, we were saved with a purpose in mind, to saturate the world with the peace that comes in Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading

Our studies come from John 20:19-21:25. Let’s read our focal passage this morning.

Turn in your Bibles this morning to John 20:19-29

John 20:19–29 (NKJV)

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, 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 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Prayer

Message

You note that I underlined the statement, “peace to you or peace be with you” three times in our focal passages this morning. In John 21:14 “14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.”

We read that Jesus made three personal visits to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. I find it interesting that Jesus three times stated “peace to you” and three times there was a personal encounter post the empty tomb. Lets’ look at these three encounters and extract what brings about the peace that Jesus offers as His disciple.

We are to Move through Obstacles to offer Peace VV. 19,26; 21:15-17

Interestingly, Jesus was hard at it the first day of the evening after He was raised from the dead.

This has always intrigued me.

John 20:17 “17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ””

Yet, to meet Thomas’ objection listen to what Jesus tells Thomas:

John 20:27 “27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.””

From the evidences we can tell, we assume He ascended back to heaven in Acts 1:9 “9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

My aim this morning is not to debate at which juncture that Jesus received His glorified body, but to gain understanding of that statement, “do not cling to Me.”

This is not time to stop and celebrate, there is work to be accomplished and late into that first evening Jesus was on assignment about His Father’s business.

Door

There were some obstacles that Jesus had to go through to reach those disciples and set them on the right course. Read with me:

John 20:19 “19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.””

John 20:26 “26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!””

Both occasions doors were shut and locked and yet Jesus showed up in the midst of the disciples. Both occasions as He arises He states, “peace to you.”

These were not unique words tied to Jesus to state. Jesus was raised as a Jewish boy and raised of the Jewish culture. “Peace to you” was a positive statement that meant you greet someone in all the fullness and happiness that God intended for them. Specifically, when Jesus stated it to the disciples He was saying that all the fullness of happiness and peace is found in Me.

He knew at this point that yes, He had invested three years in these men. But He also knew that every disciple had fled the scene, He knew of Judas’ betrayal and death, he knew that Thomas was floundering with doubt. Three was the perfect number to offer peace to these men and set them on the right course. Interestingly, we tend to give up too soon on someone. Yet, after three years of time invested in these men, He still came back three different times post the resurrection to affirm their calling and to keep them on the right track.

We know that Jesus walked right through the door (we assume His body was glorified at this point because He was able to defy physical nature attributes and walk through walls) and He overcame the obstacle of reaching the disciples to place them on solid footing. They were fearful of all that had happened. They were fearful for their very lives. Would the Jewish high court come after them? Would the Roman soldiers help to execute them?

There are obstacles of severed relationships.

Severed Relationship

John 21:15–17 “15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

After breakfast that day when Jesus made fish for the disciples and He instructed them to fish on the other side of the boat and they caught a great catch, Jesus was ready to deal with Peter. Jesus was not going to ascend back to heaven until the relationship was strong and mended.

You remember that Peter shared words not many days before that he would be found faithful even if the others were not. As you know, Peter denied Christ three times. And so, Jesus must restore Peter’s relationship.

Through this series of the repeated questions, Jesus asks Peter, “do you love Me?”

Peter had to mature from a love defined by passion, emotion and enthusiasm to a love that exercised obedience. When Jesus told Peter to “tend” my sheep, “feed my sheep”, the love was to be manifest in caring for those things Jesus cares for , nurturing those people that Jesus cares for. Peter was commissioned with making Jesus’ sheep his primary responsibility.

Oh dearly beloved, when Jesus brought life into you through a regenerate heart He also instilled love in you. Love is beyond an emotion, love is an expression of concern for others welfare.

Are you like Peter this morning? Do you need to be challenged to love beyond emotion, passion and enthusiasm to learn to love in obedience and care of others?

Who is God calling you to love on today?

Jesus moved through the obstacles in His way to minister to the disciples. What obstacles post the climax of Easter do you need to move through to be that soldier on fire for the Lord to impact the kingdom?

Relationships

Relationship is a broad paint brush. Have you allowed a certain relationship that hinders your walk with Jesus? Is there someone in your life that constantly brings you down? Or, you know you are not going to find real peace until you make your best effort in overcoming the relationship barrier with another person?

There are sins of omission as well as commission. When we choose to turn our heads from a severed relationship and we decide to write them off, that can be a hindrance or obstacle in our way to being the disciple we need to be.

As far as relationships go, maybe you are one this morning and you know without a shadow of a doubt that God has placed one on your heart to invest in the kingdom with, but there are obstacles, not in the way of the other individual, but you have your own obstacles to overcome.

Responsibilities

One obstacle can be our responsibilities. There are people God has placed in your live, but you allow self-induced responsibilities to keep you from winning others over to Christ. Is your calendar too full? Are you financial demands so great you can’t make time for anything but work? Are there some things in your life that are really not all that important but as long as you have them, they rob you of someone else?

Furthermore, I pray for you today that God would remove any obstacles in the way from you being that disciple of Christ He would have you be.

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The peace offered in this world is not a peace generated of this world. If we are to offer His peace we can’t allow this world to rob us of our peace and bring about obstacles that keep us from His peace.

We are to Meet the Objections to Offer Peace VV. 25, 27-28;

John 20:25 “25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.””

John 20:27–28 “27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!””

You know I find that when I share Christ with others, there can be all forms of objections to overcome. Satan at work can make people evasive and they just change the subject or they share something of a tidbit about the Bible that has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Some can just be close minded. Do you know there was a point when the disciples became close minded?

Mark 16:14 “14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.”

Jesus said, quit your stinking thinking and begin salvation thinking.

Mark 16:15–16 “15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Get out of the gutter and make it your life’s goal to win others for Me.

Dearly beloved, stinking thinking and soul winner thinking does not coagulate. Gutter thinking and Goal thinking about others does not mingle together. ‘Show & Tell’

Luke 24:36–43 “Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.” ‘Jesus engaged them. He showed the evidence of His journey. He met them at ground zero and fellowshipped with them over fish and honeycomb. who do you need to let into your world? Who is starving to feast on the peace that Jesus offers?

Others can hit a wall based on something that happened in their lives, possibly in the church that happened thirty years ago and they can’t get beyond that event on having an open mind to receive the gospel.

Jesus on this evening went back a second time to visit the disciples for the sole reason that Thomas was not there on the first encounter. Jesus knew of Thomas skepticism. As you know and I just read, Jesus went in the second time and told Thomas to place his hands on his body and feel the wounds from the crucifixion.

Do not be offended by objections. They are an honest conveyance of where the person lies on the things of God. And dearly beloved, from this point onward you will run into objections more rather than less. The seed of biblical influence is not there as it once was. We can note from my introduction that Jesus went back to the disciples three times. Three times! He lived with them night and day and He lost Judas, how much time does it take? How much time do we give?

I would follow that question with, how much do you love the person that God has placed in your heart?

To the single parent rearing a family who can’t stop snapping at her children. “Peace be with you.

To the discouraged spouse who knows their marriage is unfulfilling. “Peace be with you.”

To the depressed teenager who feels like there is nothing to live for. “Peace be with you.”

To the lonely student who throws thier body at partner after partner, seeking to be loved. “Peace be with you.”

To the distressed son or daughter who lost your parents at a young age. “Peace be with you.”

To the jobless parent who can’t seem to pay the rent or buy groceries, no matter how hard he or she tries. “Peace be with you.”

Do you have a spouse that does not know the Lord? How much do you love them has all to do with how many times you offer them Christ. Do you have a wayward child or grandchild, brother, sister, in-laws, coworkers, neighbors? How much do you love them?

“Feed My sheep, tend to my sheep.”

We are to find Mission Opportunities to Offer Peace found in Jesus VV. 21,22, 29

John 20:21–22 “21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

John 20:29 “29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

Oh dear church this morning, the crucifixion and the resurrection was not the end, but the ignition of a wild fire of peace to come over the world. The Lord has made us instruments of His peace.

Oh dear church, we can not overcome the obstacles and meet the objections that we encounter to win the world for Christ in our own power. We only accomplish that in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thomas we know as doubting Thomas was a nut tough to crack, yet Jesus met His objections. Paul was a persecutor of the early church and yet the Lord arrested His spirit on the road to Damascus and you could not find a greater challenge as you could in Paul. Paul was an accessory to murder in the stoning of Stephen and look what Jesus did with Paul.

Ill. Two young men on drugs. Very close to their dads. I gave them jobs. The drugs these two young men were on statistically they just do not bounce back. Not once, but twice the Lord allowed me to impact two men and change the course of their lives only in the power of the Holy Spirit. All we must do is share, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, he changes lives.

You might be saying to me this morning. Pastor Luke, I get what you are saying but you just do not know how bad the situation is. You do not know how hardened and how defeated I feel in attempting to change the direction in this relationship. You know, you are correct, I do not know, but the Holy Spirit does and if you call on Him, He can overcome the worst of matters.

Maybe this morning you continue on the merry go round of life struggles with relationships because you have never solidified your relationship in Christ. The best counsel I ever received was from my mom and it was biblically solid. If you get your life right (point north and south), then relationships will go well east and west (point the directions).

Invitation

In this story, the door was shut and yet Jesus walked right on in.

John 10:7 “7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”

Matthew 6:6 “6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Revelation 3:20 “20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Let’s pray.