“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”” Luke 24:36 NIV.
Reflection: do you have peace within you?
If you decide to turn on the nightly news (not recommended!), you can hear on a daily basis, just as you can witness all around, the world is filled with all sorts of conflicts and divisions; between individuals, between all sorts of groups of people, and even between countries. Over the past several years, we have all witnessed a conflict ending up in a horrific war that has taken about 2500 young lives on a weekly basis. Weekly!! Perhaps as many as 2 million soldiers lost, in addition to countless civilian lives. And much of the world wants the countries to keep fighting. We can watch beautiful cities and a country being completely destroyed, and many of its people spread across the world as refugees. It is so very sad to see.
Clearly not all conflicts end up in such an escalation that a war breaks out between countries. But, a war should certainly make us all question how we got here, and push for peace. In fact, it is amazing that so few people have been talking about peace, demanding their governments to negotiate for peace. And whether it is a family dispute, or a war, it all stems from the same starting point. James wrote “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”James 4:1 NIV. Did you notice that? The fights, the battles
come from within us.
We read in proverbs additional details on what the source of this internal conflict, such as “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs 10:12 NIV. “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:28 NIV. “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.” Proverbs 28:25 NIV. “An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.” Proverbs 29:22 NIV. Hate, perversion, greed and anger, sounds a lot like our sinful flesh that we all have.
In our focus verse today, Jesus suddenly appears among his disciples. Remember, they are still in hiding, doors locked, even if the women, Peter and now two more disciples claim they have met the risen Lord. It is so important that we reflect on how Jesus actually first greets these disciples. Not with condemnation for denying and deserting him. No, he greets them with “Shalom”, or “Peace be with you.”” Luke 24:36b NIV. He had previously told them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV. But they had not fully grasped the meaning of this peace. Because the peace Jesus offered was
Inner peace.
Peace with God. Paul wrote “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1 NIV. This is a peace that the world cannot offer. And we cannot get anywhere else but through Him, who is our peace because of what He achieved for us.
If you are struggling with inner peace, finding yourself often being angry, hateful, greedy, etc, it will most likely spill over to what you talk about. Others will notice it. Jesus said “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45 NIV. But there is a remedy.
Jesus Christ. Draw close to him. Fill yourself with his words, his teachings.
Find inner peace.