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Peace In Knowing The Truth

Luke 24:36-45  
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (NIVUK)

Doubt and anxiety are opposed to peace.  Doubt is uncertainty about the present and anxiety has no confidence about the future. Both are human responses to uncertainty and insecurity. Peace resolves both and comes with the confidence that all is well and will be well.  Such was the peace which Jesus had previously promised the disciples, but they had not allowed themselves to receive it (John 16:33).
 
Even though the disciples agreed that Jesus was alive, they were not ready for Him suddenly appearing in the room with them.  The doors were locked because they feared for their own safety.  The religious leaders who had hounded Jesus to the cross might come looking for them next.  So, Jesus’ arrival into a locked room was intensely frightening (John 20:19).    Even though He spoke ‘Shalom’ (‘may all that is good from God come to you and give you peace’) over them again, they were still scared and needed more reassurance.  So, what was it that enabled doubt to disappear and allow them to receive His peace?

The big questions were, was this some sort of ghost, or hallucination or illusion.  Jesus understood their concern and so He invited them to examine His mutilated hands and feet by touching Him.  Jesus then deliberately ate a piece of fish which they had cooked in front of them.  Those physical demonstrations showed that He was still fully a human being.  And yet despite all the physical evidence they needed something more to put the risen Jesus into perspective.  What they needed was the written Word of God to explain the amazing signs and wonders they had seen (John 20:9).  The dual witness of Jesus’ physical presence and the voice of the Holy Spirit breathing through the Scriptures was conclusive.  What God had said He would do, He had done.  Scriptures which they had known for years now brimmed with fresh vitality as they saw the fulfilment of prophecy in Jesus.
 
Many people suggest that if they could see Jesus, they would believe in Him; and if they had physical evidence, they would accept what He had to say.  But that is not true.  Although the disciples had all that, it was not enough to convince them (Mark 16:11).  They needed the truth of God's Word to explain the miracle of God's grace.  It is the same for our generation.  Wonderfully, we have no disadvantage in faith just because we were not there at the time - God's Word is still available to explain what it all meant.  Never underestimate the ability of the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers of the Bible (2 Peter 1:20-21), to use His words to penetrate the hardest, saddest or most doubting heart.  Never think that explaining the person and work of Jesus from the Bible is a waste of time.  God’s Word is His essential tool for bringing people to faith and salvation (John 20:30-31). Share His Word today, verbally, in a letter or email, social media post or text!  A blind and anxious world needs to know the truth about how to be saved.  Find creative ways to put God’s Word in front of God’s world for God’s glory.

Prayer 
God of truth and peace. Thank You for the powerful effect of explaining Your Word to people who are troubled by anxiety and doubt. Forgive me when I have failed to use the most potent tool in the world which can change the eternal destiny of those I care for and work amongst. Please help me to honour Your Word more and more, by reading it, sharing it with others and explaining it to them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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