Peace – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 63-66, Proverbs 13, and John 19-20

Today’s Passage: John 20:21: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

Good morning! I want to give you some thoughts from John 20:21. When we preach this verse, it is usually used as the Great Commission verse from John, but it is much more than that. Jesus said, “Peace be unto you:”, and the colon after ‘you’ explains what our Lord meant by that: “as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” And Jesus further explains in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” That was what the Father had sent Jesus to do. God Almighty was humbled as a man putting on flesh. He grew, and went to work as a carpenter. At 30 years of age, allowing Himself to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, He began to seek others to share the good news of the kingdom of God. Some loved Him, some hated Him. Sounds like a normal life doesn’t it.

We need to seek the lost like Jesus did. Mathew 28:18-20 tells us: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” And also Mark 16:15: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Also in Luke 24:47-49: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” The Power they needed to wait for was the Holy Spirit. Just like Jesus allowed Himself to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, we need to humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to control us. Jesus told us in Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Seek people to give the gospel to.

But Jesus said He came to seek AND to save that which was lost. How do we save someone who is lost? How did Jesus save us? By dying. He shed His precious blood and gave His life for us. Jesus said, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24). We need to die: die to self. If we die to ourselves, there is nothing to keep us from doing what we should. The Holy Spirit is free to do His work. We will have no problem telling others about Jesus, and receiving His peace.

Peace. (John 20:21)