#DailyDevotion Jesus Brings The Peace, The Shalom Of The Father To Us
Thursday Easter 3
Luke 24:36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
Shalom! Peace to you Jesus says to his apostles that late Easter evening as he appears to them behind a locked door. Peace, a word they need to hear. They have been locked up over the weekend for fear of what happened to Jesus was going to happen to them. The need peace because they one they abandoned stood among them. What was he going to tell them or do to them? He tells them Shalom! Peace!
Yet they do not receive his peace. They doubt instead in their hearts that it is really Jesus. They think it is a spirit, a ghost. Remember how they acted when they saw Jesus waking on the water. If someone just appeared out of nowhere I imagine we would probably act in similar fashion. But Jesus’ peace they needed to hear. Startled and frightened was their reaction. Only the peace which Jesus gives could calm their trouble hearts. Consequently, his peace is what calms our troubled hearts as well.
The disciples were very troubled at his appearance and we deliberating if what they were seeing was real. Jesus asked why were they that way. He had appeared to the women at the tomb. They had heard that message. Jesus had appeared with two disciples from Emmaus and they had heard their message. They still did not believe the word Jesus had sent with them. Why did they no believe? Why were they still troubled? We must remember that they did not have the Holy Spirit like you and I have received it. He was not yet operating among them like he operates in the world today.
But blessed are you. You have heard the message of peace from the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has been operating on you and you believed the good news. Great joy is now ours. We may have our doubts on occasion. The devil, the world and our own flesh never give up on us. In similar fashion, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit do not give up on us either. His word of peace still stands for us. We should cast those doubts aside look at the cross and know there peace with God and peace with our fellow man was won for us there. Jesus died there but more than that rose from the dead as the witnesses testify. He is alive. He is no ghost. He is risen. If Jesus is risen, and he is, then the work he performed for us has God’s seal of approval. The Father is reconciled with you and the whole world. Death has its notice. It has no claim on you. Eternal life is now yours in Christ Jesus. Satan cannot accuse you. The accusations of the law have been nailed to the cross. Peace to you. Shalom.
Heavenly Father, you sent your only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and rise from the dead that we may know your peace. Grant us this peace always that we may spread it to our fellow man and live in it with you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.