[Biblemat] The buckhorn teacher 2/4/07

[thornhill1]

THE  BUCKHORN  TEACHER
"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2

Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net 

Vol.5                                                   February 4, 2007                                            No.19

 

"Peace I leave with you."

 

After Jesus finished eating the Last Supper with His apostles and washed their feet He announced that one of them would betray Him. While they puzzled over His statement, asking "Lord, who is it?" Jesus revealed the traitor to John by telling him that "it is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." He handed the dipped bread to Judas and said to him, "What you do, do quickly." Judas, having received the piece of bread left immediately while it was night to do his dastardly deed. The other apostles did not understand what was transpiring at that time, but they would later.

            After Judas departed Jesus began to discuss with the remaining apostles His pending departure making some promises to them. After promising to send them the Holy Spirit  to teach and remind them of the things He had taught them, He then said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you' not as the world gives do I give it to you, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jn.14:27. Then at the conclusion of His discussion he promised again, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Jn.16:33. What Jesus was promising was of little value materially speaking. It was not fame and fortune, but something infinitely more valuable and important. He was promising something that would be needed to sustain them in the dark days ahead.  The peace He promised was an inner peace, a quality of life that could not be corrupted, stolen, or destroyed by the material things of the world. Earlier, He had promised not only that His followers would have life, but they would have it more abundantly. Jn.10:10. Part of this abundant life was the peace He was now promising.  

            Even though this blessed promise of peace was first received and enjoyed by His apostles, it is still available today and remains just as wonderful and beautiful. Hear the apostle Paul, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." Phil.4:6-7.

            Peace is one of the sweetest words in the English language and no one can enjoy any greater blessing in this world than peace. Peace (Greek-eirine) is one of the great, prominent themes of the New Testament. It is found in every book, ca.88 times in all. Every epistle of Paul begins with the wish for peace to be enjoyed by his readers, and many of the NT letters close with a benediction of peace. When one is at peace with God, and at peace in righteous living one has a life that not only brings joy and happiness here, but also has promise of eternal life in heaven. The gift of peace enriches the soul for both time and eternity. It is no wonder then that Peter, quoting from Ps.34:14 writes, "He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it." 1.Pet.3:10-11.  

            What is the peace Jesus offers? From a negative standpoint it is not as one man describes it, "animal contentment." Cattle and sheep grazing in the pasture make a peaceful picture. They are content, not worrying about sin and salvation. But, they have no soul. Some people act like animals. They just drift along, seemingly at peace with the world. They don't want to be disturbed. They don't want to face the fact that, unlike the animals, they have an immortal soul that will have to face God in the judgment  This is not the peace that Jesus promises. 

            The cessation of strife and the absence of wars, conflicts, and troubles is not the peace that Jesus offers. A husband and wife may not bicker and quarrel with each other, yet live in an atmosphere of smoldering hatred. This is not peace. Countries may not have open hostility and strife, yet not be in a state of genuine peace and good will. 

            Lack of activity is not necessarily a sign of peace. A stagnant pond of water may look peaceful, but danger lurks beneath the surface. It is filled with dangerous substances. Some Christians seem to be at peace, but it is a peaceful slumber of indifference and unconcern. This is not the peace Jesus promises.

            An ocean on the other hand is not stagnant. The waves are constantly moving, shifting, changing, ebbing in and out. While there is turmoil on the surface, underneath the waves there is a calm peacefulness. This is the type of peace Jesus offers. The storms of division, strife, trials, and trouble may rage in life as the Christian faces the temptations of sin and the hatred of the world. But he is at peace. He knows he is right with God and his fellowman, therefore he doesn't have to fear the storms that rage about him. The Christian is like the little bird in an illustration I read once. "The sea was beating against the rocks in huge waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing, but a little bird was asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head tucked serenely under its wing, sound asleep. This is peace - to be able to sleep in the storm." It is the calmness within while the troubles rage without. 

            The peace that Jesus left us will not be obtained by the smiles of men nor taken away by their frowns. It is not found in the worldly gifts and praises of men for such are limited to the body and time, as well as deceitful and vain. The peace that Jesus left, bringing consolation and comfort to the broken hearted, the bereaved, the troubled soul brings an inward security of the soul, based on reconciliation with God. This reconciliation comes through His Son Jesus Christ "who made peace with God through the blood of His cross." Col.1:20. The  reconciliation is completed through man's obedience to the gospel. Rom.6:3-6, 17-18.  Peace ensues because the guilt and penalty of sin has been removed.  

            Peace comes because in obeying the gospel one has the assurance that God is pleased with us, even though the world around us may be displeased. As a result of our willing obedience we become recipients of God's grace (His undeserved favor in saving us). Eph.2:8-9; Tit.3:5. Peace is the joy of knowing that God is for us, even when the world is against us. "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts in which you are also called in one body; and be thankful." Col.3:15. "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom.5:1.  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070209/73cae00d/attachment-0001.html