Message from the Manse...Message in the June 2010 edition of Fellowship...
MINISTER’S MESSAGE
“Let there be peace
on earth”?
With global tension and conflict always in
the news, one wonders if there will ever be lasting peace on earth. Was it easier for the first followers of
Jesus?
You remember the situation they found
themselves in, after the momentous events of that Passover week when their Lord
allowed Himself to be put to death. They had gone into hiding – or at least,
they were meeting behind locked doors - afraid that the Jewish authorities
might go after them.
They didn’t react positively to the message
Mary Magdalene brought them on the Sunday morning, after she had met the
resurrected Jesus. But would we have
reacted any differently? No doubt we
would have bolted our doors too, but that evening locked doors were no obstacle
to the risen Lord. He entered both the
room and their lives, transforming their fear and disbelief into shalom – peace.
“Shalom!”
is a
traditional word of welcome amongst Jews, but clearly this greeting by Jesus
held a far greater depth of meaning.
Christ’s “Peace!” removed the disciples’ fear; and as if that wasn’t enough, Jesus conferred
on them the gift of the Holy Spirit. The
means of transformation was Jesus’ gift to them on Easter Day. They became Easter people, empowered by God the Holy Spirit, sent out by God
the Son, to bring everyone the wonderful good news of God the Father.
The good news from God is still so relevant
today: if people (of all nations)
receive God’s forgiveness, then they are able to forgive others, and so live at
peace with one another.
Is it easy?
No!
Is it possible? Yes!
If we are Easter
people, living in the enabling of God the Holy Spirit, then we can pray
that all nations may experience God’s gracious gift of peace, beginning with
our own lives. Let’s not give up
praying!
Praise God for all signs of hope, such as the
greatly increased demand for God’s holy word reported recently by the Bible Society – especially in China, and
even in Islamic nations, in Israel and elsewhere – because individual lives are
being transformed by God’s peace, through faith in Jesus Christ, our living
Lord and Saviour.
Shalom! Peace be with you!
Edward.