When we hear of the word
“peace” we normally have a preconceived idea of what that looks like. To some
people peace may look like a picturesque summer day on the beach, a silent
library, or a room full of puppies and other stress relievers. Fortunately, all
these ideas of what peace is and should be fall tremendously short of the
Biblical peace that Jesus speaks of.
“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
Many of us, including
myself, are tempted
The Bible is full to the
brim with times and situations that were tumultuous. Many prophets and
righteous people were killed and persecuted. For instance, when David hid himself
in the cave of Adullam while Saul and his armies were looking to kill him. He
was in a place of total desolation, nevertheless, with a trembling voice he
sang with all his heart:
“When my spirit
grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way.” Psalm 142:3a NIV
As I would love to relive
the sufferings of the righteous throughout the Bible, I would like to point
your attention to one moment that I believe was one of the most fearful times
for one of Jesus’ apostles, Thomas.
Christ’s lifeless body
was hanging on the cross while all His Apostles besides John were absent in
fear of their lives. Christ’s Eternal Kingdom seemed like a broken disarray of
fanatics and hopefuls soon to dissolve like previous religiously zealous sects
had done. It seemed like there was no hope and the future for the Apostles
looked very similar to their Crucified Lord. There was no peace in this Kingdom
established by the Man of Peace.
Amidst this, Thomas fell
into severe lack of faith. His heart had been drained of any hope left and
everything looked bleak. The Messiah who had called him, the fulfillment of
Israel’s hope, now lay dead in a tomb. Those hands that he had seen heal the
sick were now pierced and soaked with blood. This was the Jesus of whom Thomas
had said “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16) in complete
boldness to follow Christ wherever He went, including the grave. Now Thomas was
conquered by the fear of death, overcome with regret, emptied of hope, and
faced with the greatest doubt of his life. Those words of peace he heard
guaranteed by Christ seemed distant and challenged by everything he was
experiencing. He let go of that free gift of peace.
Now listen carefully to
Christ’s Inauguration of His Resurrection to Thomas and his crumbling world:
“A week later his disciples were in the house again,
and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then
he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.
Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John
20:26-27 NIV
Christ
reinstituted His peace in Thomas’ life by appearing to him and declaring His
peace over him. He then invited Thomas to experience the reality of His
existence by allowing him to touch Peace itself. He turned Thomas’ eyes away
from the confusing, fearful world and demanded that everything that causes
despair, fear, and hopelessness must bow to Christ. That invitation to
experience His peace still stands today. We too might respond like Thomas when
we choose to look to the eternal reality of Christ’s Peace: “My Lord and my
God!” John 20:28
*This blog was written by Tucker McDonald, a junior at South Alabama majoring in Business.*
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