After Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the
grave He came to his disciples who were hiding:
Then,
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came
and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
وَلَمَّا
حَلَّ مَسَاءُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، وَهُوَ الْيَوْمُ الأَوَّلُ مِنَ الأُسْبُوعِ،
كَانَ التَّلاَمِيذُ مُجْتَمِعِينَ فِي بَيْتٍ أَغْلَقُوا أَبْوَابَهُ خَوْفاً
مِنَ الْيَهُودِ، وَإِذَا يَسُوعُ يَحْضُرُ وَسْطَهُمْ قَائِلاً: «سَلاَمٌ
لَكُمْ!»
John
20:19
There are so many words we take for granted and think
we understand, but each one of us understands the same word in a different way
and we communicate with each other thinking the other person understands, and
so does he/she, yet we really do not understand each other fully.
I looked up the world definition and the Biblical
definition of peace. What did Jesus mean when he told His disciples “Peace be with you”?
In
English, the word "peace" depicts a passive picture, one showing an
absence of disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from internal and
external strife.
The
Biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests heavily on the Semitic
root slm, which means "to be complete" or "to be
sound." The verb conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be
complete or whole" or "to live well." Shalom was used in
both greetings and farewells. It was meant to act as a blessing on the one to
whom it was spoken: "May your life be filled with health, prosperity, and
victory." As an adjective, it expressed completeness and safety.
God
alone is the source of peace, for he is "Yahweh Shalom" (see Judges
6:24 ). The Lord came to sinful humankind, historically first to the Jews and
then to the Gentiles, desiring to enter into a relationship with them. He
established with them a covenant of peace, which was sealed with his presence
(see Num 6:24-26 ). Participants were given perfect peace so long as they
maintained a right relationship with the Lord (see Isaiah 26:3; 2 Thessalonians
3:16). Adapted from: Dictionaries
- Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
Did you ever find yourself not at peace with God?
Although many may frown at this question, I admit there have been times when I
was not at peace with God. There are some questions to which I do not know the
answers to at the present time and is keeping me from being at peace with God.
He may or may not reveal His answers to me, and even if He does, I may not
understand because
"My
thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways
are far beyond anything you could imagine”.
لأَنَّ
أَفْكَارِي لَيْسَتْ مُمَاثِلَةً لأَفْكَارِكُمْ، وَلاَ طُرُقَكُمْ مِثْلُ
طُرُقِي، يَقُولُ الرَّبُّ.
Isaiah 55:8
Lasting peace cannot be attained through our own
efforts, but rather through Christ in us. The peace that comes from Him is
eternal. Our bond with Him is the foundation
upon which real and lasting peace is built.
In order to experience the
peace of God we need first to be at peace with God.
I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:
Abba Father, I
want to experience Your lasting peace. I ask You God to expose anything that
may be preventing me from being at peace with You and heal it so that I can
receive the true and everlasting peace that only You can give. Thank You Lord
that through the atoning blood of Jesus I am without spot or blemish in Your
eyes. Father I rejoice in Your faithfulness. Thank
You Father God that Your deep steadfast love for me endures forever. Thank You Father for
Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my
life. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all
we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever
and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
Jesus loves you,
In Him,
Wagdi Henein
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