WEBVTT 00:00:02.189 --> 00:00:06.410 We continue and conclude our sermon series, What's 00:00:06.410 --> 00:00:09.050 in a Name? It has been quite a journey as we've 00:00:09.050 --> 00:00:10.589 journeyed through the Gospel of John, looking 00:00:10.589 --> 00:00:13.910 at the many distinctives, and we've only scratched 00:00:13.910 --> 00:00:17.129 the surface. There are over 100 of them, and 00:00:17.129 --> 00:00:20.649 we've hit 16, I believe. In this Holy Week, we've 00:00:20.649 --> 00:00:23.710 really looked at six that kind of lead us to 00:00:23.710 --> 00:00:26.850 today as we look at the titles and the distinctives 00:00:26.850 --> 00:00:32.789 of Jesus. And today is no exception. But today's 00:00:32.789 --> 00:00:35.590 a weird one. Today is one that we don't necessarily 00:00:35.590 --> 00:00:38.770 always think about when it comes to Jesus. We 00:00:38.770 --> 00:00:42.049 give him the title of Savior, Lamb of God. We've 00:00:42.049 --> 00:00:45.130 sung about the lion today. All of these things 00:00:45.130 --> 00:00:47.729 that have Old Testament implications, New Testament 00:00:47.729 --> 00:00:52.090 implications, 2025 implications. But today, we're 00:00:52.090 --> 00:00:55.530 going to talk about a word that I think if we're 00:00:55.530 --> 00:01:00.789 all honest, we all really, really need every 00:01:00.789 --> 00:01:04.299 day of our life. And that is the word peace. 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:08.700 So peace, right? Like peace sign, like P -E -A 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:12.959 -C -E, just so we are clear. And a question I 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:15.739 have for us this morning is, what does peace 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:19.359 even mean anymore in our lives? I think about, 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:22.640 I don't know, maybe 100, 150 years ago, things 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:26.579 just moved a lot slower. With the rise of the 00:01:26.579 --> 00:01:30.079 internet in the 90s, and now we see, if we're 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:32.739 being honest, our lives really can't function 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:35.980 without it. I know I have three or four curmudgeons 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:39.560 that probably would disagree with me, but we 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:44.980 rely on speed constantly. I look out and see 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:48.680 all of the families with kids, and I know your 00:01:48.680 --> 00:01:52.640 life is not slow. I know it's not. How do I know? 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:56.950 I have three. 12, 10, and 8, right? Okay, that 00:01:56.950 --> 00:02:01.189 life is just fast, but there are days, Karen 00:02:01.189 --> 00:02:05.030 and I just, we long for that quiet and that peace, 00:02:05.150 --> 00:02:10.069 and we get it from 8 .45 to 9 .30 every night 00:02:10.069 --> 00:02:15.729 -ish. But what does peace even mean anymore? 00:02:16.289 --> 00:02:19.389 Peace is one of the most misused words in our 00:02:19.389 --> 00:02:23.770 world today, in my opinion. I just want peace 00:02:23.770 --> 00:02:26.650 and quiet. How many of you have said that this 00:02:26.650 --> 00:02:30.009 week? Some of those hands went up way too fast. 00:02:31.289 --> 00:02:34.590 I need to get to a peaceful place in my life. 00:02:35.030 --> 00:02:37.389 Right? Maybe you said that or a version of that. 00:02:37.789 --> 00:02:41.490 Or maybe what we hear at the end of people's 00:02:41.490 --> 00:02:45.009 lives as families are going through death, rest 00:02:45.009 --> 00:02:52.039 in peace. But I think... Our world today knows 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:55.520 very little about peace. Because I think we've 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:59.000 allowed for turmoil and confusion and division 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:02.479 and drama, if you will, to be something that 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:05.419 undergirds and underlines the little gods we 00:03:05.419 --> 00:03:08.340 have in life. I've heard it said, I just need 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:11.340 a little bit of stress to get things done. Or, 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:13.159 you know what, life wouldn't be life without 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:17.099 a little bit of drama. Both of those, I think, 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:19.789 are misunderstandings of what it means. To have 00:03:19.789 --> 00:03:23.949 peace. The news, our neighborhoods, even our 00:03:23.949 --> 00:03:26.650 own hearts seem to be dominated by things that 00:03:26.650 --> 00:03:29.409 are the exact opposite of peace. And maybe this 00:03:29.409 --> 00:03:33.009 resonates with you this morning. Anxiety, anger, 00:03:33.289 --> 00:03:37.889 unrest. Maybe this morning you're sitting in 00:03:37.889 --> 00:03:44.919 those three places. Anger, anxiety, unrest. Maybe 00:03:44.919 --> 00:03:47.740 you've turned those words against individuals 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:51.740 in your life, the church, politics, whatever 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:56.280 it is. Maybe you look in the mirror, and those 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:59.659 three words come way before anything peace or 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:03.099 rest or whatever those positive ones would be. 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:06.919 But today, this Easter Sunday, I proclaim and 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:10.219 I submit to you this morning that peace itself 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:14.819 has a name, peace itself has a face, physically 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:19.439 walked out of the tomb. Jesus is not just the 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:23.300 bringer of peace or the one that blesses us with 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:25.620 peace. I'm going to submit this morning to all 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:30.000 of us, he is our peace. Ephesians 2 reminds us 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.879 of that. And this is the good news of Easter 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:37.339 Sunday in John 20. Now let's kind of set the 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:40.839 scene really quick. It was evening. The disciples 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:45.449 had locked their doors. Jesus had died. The most 00:04:45.449 --> 00:04:49.149 still day of the church calendar, that holy Saturday. 00:04:49.870 --> 00:04:52.389 We've gone through Maundy Thursday. If you were 00:04:52.389 --> 00:04:55.750 here, we came to the table of our Lord. We walked 00:04:55.750 --> 00:04:58.129 through Good Friday. And we see the growing darkness. 00:04:58.230 --> 00:05:01.430 Maybe you attended a Tenebrae service where it's 00:05:01.430 --> 00:05:05.129 a service of growing darkness. Then what do you 00:05:05.129 --> 00:05:08.290 do with this Saturday? Now I have some pastor 00:05:08.290 --> 00:05:10.310 friends that are part of big churches that they 00:05:10.310 --> 00:05:15.240 do Easter celebration on Saturday. And I silently 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:18.120 rebuke that. I will never say that to them, but 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:19.800 I do hold that in my head. Like, what are you 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:21.959 doing? No, leave Sunday to Sunday, blah, blah, 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:25.519 blah, blah, blah. That's just me. But Saturday, 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:27.660 it's evening. The disciples had locked their 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:31.540 doors. Jesus had died. And now, were they living 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:36.439 in peace? No. They locked their doors. Not because 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:38.720 they were in a bad neighborhood. They locked 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:41.970 their doors because they were afraid. But into 00:05:41.970 --> 00:05:45.290 that fear, into the room, into that very moment, 00:05:45.569 --> 00:05:50.029 Jesus comes and stands among them and says, peace 00:05:50.029 --> 00:05:54.949 be with you. You think about that encounter, 00:05:55.209 --> 00:05:59.470 that interaction with the dead, now resurrected 00:05:59.470 --> 00:06:05.069 Christ. I don't know, that word peace to me would 00:06:05.069 --> 00:06:06.990 have meant something a little different in that 00:06:06.990 --> 00:06:11.360 moment. Because it has this... This power to 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:15.139 it now. Jesus came and did the things he said 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:17.939 he was going to do. All the times he mentioned 00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:19.879 to the disciples that he was going to die. But 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:22.079 he was going to rise again. They never understood. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:25.819 Then he dies. And now you're sitting here. And 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:28.480 now it's Sunday. And now he shows up. He's there. 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:31.560 That's the power of Easter. It's resurrection 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:35.240 peace. And it's peace that the world can never 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:38.040 give. The world can try. It can give you the 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:39.899 money, it can give you the status, it can give 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:42.199 you a job where you get to create your own schedule 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.879 and take tomorrow off. That doesn't mean peace. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:49.339 That is not the same thing. Because the peace 00:06:49.339 --> 00:06:52.199 that the world gives is temporary, circumstantial, 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:55.959 and fragile. You ever think about that? When 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:58.060 you think you're about, you kind of have on the 00:06:58.060 --> 00:06:59.920 calendar, I'm going to take that day off, and 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:02.199 I'm just going to get some stuff done, or I'm 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:04.759 going to get nothing done, and then what inevitably 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:10.069 happens? Things go awry. Our control over our 00:07:10.069 --> 00:07:12.410 schedule, we get called into that early meeting. 00:07:12.430 --> 00:07:14.670 We go, no, but I can start my day off at 10. 00:07:14.889 --> 00:07:17.350 The meeting's done at 9 .55. I'll start from 00:07:17.350 --> 00:07:19.149 10. Then all of a sudden, something comes at 00:07:19.149 --> 00:07:23.290 10, and then it just becomes another day. But 00:07:23.290 --> 00:07:25.149 the real peace that we're talking about today, 00:07:25.329 --> 00:07:29.790 the resurrection Easter peace, it's a peace that 00:07:29.790 --> 00:07:34.050 can enter locked rooms and can unlock fearful. 00:07:34.810 --> 00:07:37.790 That is the peace that Jesus is. So let's break 00:07:37.790 --> 00:07:40.569 it down. Jesus appears, showing us that this 00:07:40.569 --> 00:07:46.610 peace is personal. John 20, 19 -21. On the evening 00:07:46.610 --> 00:07:48.970 of that day, the first day of the week, the doors 00:07:48.970 --> 00:07:51.230 being locked where the disciples were for fear 00:07:51.230 --> 00:07:54.089 of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them 00:07:54.089 --> 00:07:57.509 and said to them, Peace be with you. When he 00:07:57.509 --> 00:08:01.629 had said this, he showed them his hands and his 00:08:01.629 --> 00:08:05.279 feet. The disciples were glad when they saw the 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:08.399 Lord. Jesus said to them, peace be with you. 00:08:08.459 --> 00:08:12.500 As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:21.519 Notice something. When were they glad? You can 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:26.139 answer. When they see him. They were locked in 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:29.819 their fear. They were absolutely locked in their 00:08:29.819 --> 00:08:33.059 fear. I liken this to the kid who needs to go 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:35.700 to mom and dad's room at night because they have 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:39.159 this nightmare. But they know, especially in 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:41.220 the Holland owner house, they know that they 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:44.120 know they will get relief from that peace when 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:51.179 they wake up. Mom, right? You get that when you 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:55.340 wake up. Mom, because that peace turns to fear 00:08:55.340 --> 00:09:00.059 if they wake up dad. And so understand, that's 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:03.440 a bad night. But understand, just as little kids 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:06.179 need to see things to bring them peace because 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:08.460 they don't know how to kind of self -actualize 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:12.460 peace within themselves, they see Jesus and they 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:16.000 have peace. You see, this is no mere greeting. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.820 Jesus is doing something here. He is teaching 00:09:19.820 --> 00:09:23.519 the ones that should have gotten it already. 00:09:24.039 --> 00:09:25.980 I don't know about you, but that's convicting. 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:29.879 Peace be with you isn't just a phrase. It's a 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:33.039 promise. You see, the idea behind this is the 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:36.220 Hebrew understanding of shalom, a wholeness, 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:39.600 a restoration, a putting back together what sin 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:45.720 had broken. That is what shalom meant. And what 00:09:45.720 --> 00:09:49.120 does he do? Jesus shows his wounds, not in some 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:55.639 morbid display, but as evidence. And 33 % of 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:57.860 you, a statistic I just made up right now, need 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:01.539 that in your life. Some of you need the evidence 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:04.740 of faith in order to believe. And I'm going to 00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:09.230 encourage you, get past that. Jesus has done 00:10:09.230 --> 00:10:12.230 what he said he was going to do. Jesus has fulfilled 00:10:12.230 --> 00:10:17.289 every messianic prophecy to every jot and tittle. 00:10:17.370 --> 00:10:21.690 Ken, what is the jot and the tittle? The dot 00:10:21.690 --> 00:10:27.669 on the I, the cross on the T. Everything he said 00:10:27.669 --> 00:10:31.590 he was going to do, he did. And now he's showing 00:10:31.590 --> 00:10:36.549 them the evidence. His crucifixion wasn't a mistake. 00:10:37.289 --> 00:10:41.149 It was a pathway to peace. And he's showing them. 00:10:41.190 --> 00:10:44.970 Isaiah 53 reminds us, but he was pierced for 00:10:44.970 --> 00:10:47.830 our transgressions. Or he was despised and rejected 00:10:47.830 --> 00:10:51.169 by men. A man of sorrow and antiquated with grief. 00:10:51.450 --> 00:10:54.850 And as one from whom men hid their faces, he 00:10:54.850 --> 00:10:59.330 was despised and we esteemed him not. He also 00:10:59.330 --> 00:11:02.169 reminds us that he was pierced for our transgressions. 00:11:04.809 --> 00:11:08.289 So he's showing them. Now, if you're new to Munster 00:11:08.289 --> 00:11:09.570 Church, maybe you're a guest. You don't have 00:11:09.570 --> 00:11:11.870 to answer, but I do like to ask questions, and 00:11:11.870 --> 00:11:15.169 I do wait for some responses. So you're a disciple. 00:11:15.350 --> 00:11:18.610 You're in this room. Jesus shows up. Again, locked 00:11:18.610 --> 00:11:21.490 door, so that's something right there. But then 00:11:21.490 --> 00:11:24.509 he shows you the hands. He shows you his feet, 00:11:24.610 --> 00:11:27.929 his side. What is the response you would have 00:11:27.929 --> 00:11:31.789 as a disciple? You were in fear. You've now been 00:11:31.789 --> 00:11:35.389 given peace by Jesus himself, peace itself. What's 00:11:35.389 --> 00:11:40.799 going through your mind? I'm seeing a ghost. 00:11:41.179 --> 00:11:47.000 Just went mind blown. Okay, anyone else? Is any 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:50.559 of you getting to comfort? Or are we still locked 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:53.259 in fear? That's what I had to wrestle with this 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:57.320 week. Like, okay, he says these things, and before 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:02.559 his death, I believed every word -ish. But notice 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:06.879 who's in the room. I always put myself in the 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.840 person of Peter, not because upon me God was 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:11.100 going to build the church because that church 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:14.220 would have fallen apart way long ago. But Peter 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:16.519 had foot and mouth disease, and so do I. And 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:19.639 so I resonate a lot with Peter. And notice what 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:22.659 I read in the beginning of service. It was Peter 00:12:22.659 --> 00:12:26.379 and the disciples. You see, Peter had not yet 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:30.639 been forgiven by Jesus for denying him. He'd 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.460 not been brought back into the fold as a disciple, 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:36.759 but that's a different sermon. But understand 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:40.679 that in this room was Jesus' closest friends, 00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:44.240 now gripped with fear, doubt, all of those things. 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:48.220 He shows them these things. I think I would have 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:51.460 just been in awe. But if I'm being honest, I 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:55.019 probably still would have doubted. And mainly 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:59.299 because I think we do that even in the midst 00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:04.620 of evidence. And in 2025 today, what is evidence 00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:08.940 really? Not much at times. Because we just try 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:12.480 to logicalize, my word, right, the truth out 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:15.799 of things. We almost try to look for non -truth 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:18.600 and get excited when we find it because we got 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:21.730 the gotcha. It's like gotcha journalism. We get 00:13:21.730 --> 00:13:23.970 that little sound bite. We get that little clip 00:13:23.970 --> 00:13:26.190 that goes on the Instagram for eight seconds, 00:13:26.250 --> 00:13:29.669 and that's what we think truth is. No, Jesus 00:13:29.669 --> 00:13:32.870 is double and tripling down in this room for 00:13:32.870 --> 00:13:36.649 the ones that should have gotten it. Jesus shows 00:13:36.649 --> 00:13:40.830 his wounds as a display of the path of peace, 00:13:41.090 --> 00:13:44.269 that he goes through these things so you and 00:13:44.269 --> 00:13:48.720 I, the church, could have peace. Because Jesus 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.759 is risen, we have peace with God, and we belong 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:56.179 to him, and he comes into our fears and our doubt. 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:58.620 Heidelberg Catechism, question answer one, is 00:13:58.620 --> 00:14:01.159 just a beautiful reminder. Again, this isn't 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:04.340 the whole thing, just the beginning. For us to 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:08.360 declare this, and it's one of my favorite writings 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:12.720 ever, what is your only comfort in life and in 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.399 death? And it takes us right out of it in the 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:19.789 beginning. that I am not my own, but belong. 00:14:20.909 --> 00:14:23.129 How many of us don't have peace in life because 00:14:23.129 --> 00:14:26.110 we don't think we belong? Because we think we're 00:14:26.110 --> 00:14:28.389 an outcast, we think we're weird, we think we're 00:14:28.389 --> 00:14:30.789 the stranger or we're different, and we think 00:14:30.789 --> 00:14:35.870 we don't belong. In Christ, you do, period. I 00:14:35.870 --> 00:14:39.009 am not my own, but belong, body and soul, in 00:14:39.009 --> 00:14:41.990 life and in death, to who? My faithful Savior, 00:14:42.169 --> 00:14:48.559 Jesus Christ. So friend, peace is personal. But 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:51.840 peace also comes with a purpose. Peace has to 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:54.820 have a purpose because Jesus had a purpose. So 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:58.019 by the transitive property or something, if Jesus 00:14:58.019 --> 00:15:01.139 is our peace and Jesus has purpose, that means 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:05.259 our peace will always have purpose. John 20, 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:09.059 21 says this. Jesus said to them, peace be with 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:13.539 you. As the Father has sent me, even I am sending 00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:17.740 peace. you. There's always purpose with Jesus. 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:21.039 And I think if we're honest, that's how we find 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:23.720 peace in ourselves or in our situation. When 00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:27.879 we have purpose, I look out and see probably 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:33.700 175 type A personalities that would be classified 00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:38.179 as control freaks. Amen? That was not enough. 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:41.539 That's okay. It's totally fine. Amen. I'm one 00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:45.049 of them. That for a lot of times, how we don't 00:15:45.049 --> 00:15:46.590 have peace is when we have to give up control. 00:15:46.909 --> 00:15:48.429 I'm not going to ask you to raise your hand because 00:15:48.429 --> 00:15:52.009 everybody would. But this peace not only is purposeful, 00:15:52.029 --> 00:15:57.070 it has a destination. Jesus doesn't just give 00:15:57.070 --> 00:16:00.850 peace. He gives peace with a purpose. So our 00:16:00.850 --> 00:16:04.169 peace, if it is Jesus himself, has something 00:16:04.169 --> 00:16:07.769 quote unquote tied to it. He sends us into the 00:16:07.769 --> 00:16:13.940 world with his peace as our foundation. Think 00:16:13.940 --> 00:16:17.039 about that. The foundation you and I have as 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:20.259 believers, whether you're in a season of seeking 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:23.019 right now, or you and Jesus have been good, what 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:26.200 would Jesus do? Frog, fully relying on God for 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:31.919 90 years. That our foundation, our identity as 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:35.500 a believer should be purposeful peace. Belgic 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:38.559 Confession, Article 20, says this. We believe 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:41.899 that God sent the Son to assume the nature in 00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:44.440 which the disobedience had been committed in 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.940 order to make satisfaction completeness by his 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:51.080 most perfect obedience and to our dear punishment 00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:54.919 so that we might be restored to God's favor and 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:58.779 set free from the deadly guilt of sin. Some of 00:16:58.779 --> 00:17:01.220 you don't like that because it has the word God's 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:05.160 favor in it. And you don't know whether or not 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:08.529 you have God's favor. Well, let me just declare 00:17:08.529 --> 00:17:11.910 this morning into your soul, if you are a Christ 00:17:11.910 --> 00:17:15.450 follower, you have God's favor. The Bible says 00:17:15.450 --> 00:17:18.569 it. Our confessions uphold it. We believe it. 00:17:20.089 --> 00:17:22.529 So what does that look like in your life? That 00:17:22.529 --> 00:17:25.950 you get to live with God's favor. Yeah, but I 00:17:25.950 --> 00:17:31.059 still have allergies. So? That's in this life. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.480 God's favor is to bring the gospel till we get 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:38.460 to see it face to face. Till we're in glory. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:43.180 We endure with peace and patience and kindness. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:45.099 We'll get to that verse in about seven minutes. 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:49.119 Yet for a lot of us, we want to look at our circumstance 00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:52.859 and go, I can't have peace because I deal with, 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:56.519 insert whatever here. And some of those afflictions 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:59.140 are great. And some of them are not, if we're 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:03.539 being honest. That not only is this peace personal, 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:05.880 not only is there purpose for peace, there's 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:09.019 a perspective here. What the Belgic Confession 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:12.019 is giving us is that we are restored to God's 00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:17.599 favor to give us a mission in this life. Whether 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:20.019 you're a pastor, whether you're an accountant, 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:22.500 whether you're a stay -at -home mom, which is 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:25.390 a full -time job. Whether you are a bricklayer, 00:18:25.470 --> 00:18:28.170 whether you're on TV, whether you're behind the 00:18:28.170 --> 00:18:31.630 screen, whatever it is, you have purpose to live 00:18:31.630 --> 00:18:38.109 a life of reconciliation. But that's tough. Because 00:18:38.109 --> 00:18:40.869 what is reconciliation? Well, it starts with 00:18:40.869 --> 00:18:46.849 forgiveness. Now we just kind of got tense. We 00:18:46.849 --> 00:18:49.269 don't really like to give forgiveness too often. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.579 Because we like to have that kind of position 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:54.160 over people. We like to have that little pound 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:56.279 of flesh that we just kind of stick in our pocket. 00:18:57.140 --> 00:19:00.000 Friend, that's not the same as being a Christ 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.200 follower. It doesn't fit. That because Christ 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.900 rose from the dead, gives us his peace because 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:09.779 we have himself, we should live a life of reconciliation. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:16.319 So kind of my Easter week wrecker, if you will. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:19.759 Where do you need reconciliation done in your 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:24.380 life? And where do you need to offer reconciliation 00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:27.980 to someone in your life? Because it's both and. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:32.019 It's not either or. If we say we have no sin, 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:34.440 we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:37.259 us. But if we confess our sin, God is faithful 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:39.819 and just, will forgive us our sin and cleanse 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:43.039 us from all unrighteousness. Great. So what? 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:45.460 What do we do with that? We go and forgive others. 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:48.799 Now, that doesn't mean they have to be your best 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:51.460 friends. That doesn't mean they have to be on 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:54.380 your Christmas card list. They don't need to 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:58.079 be your favorites on your phone. But to live 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:00.839 a life as a believer and not forgive and not 00:20:00.839 --> 00:20:03.980 offer reconciliation, you're spitting on Easter. 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:07.440 You're spitting on exactly what Jesus rose for. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:11.339 To give us an audience with God that we will 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:14.700 be there one day, but in this life we are called 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:19.279 to forgive and to bring peace. To be peacemakers. 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:23.259 Where have we heard that before? Jesus. The Sermon 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:28.279 on the Mount. Blessed are the peacemakers. Not 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:31.579 peacekeepers. Because when we peacekeep, it's 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:34.839 usually a fallacy. It's usually lie upon lie 00:20:34.839 --> 00:20:37.380 or cover up after cover up. We're called to make. 00:20:38.809 --> 00:20:42.450 And we are empowered to do so. Why? Because peace 00:20:42.450 --> 00:20:46.970 is empowered. John 20, 22 says this. And when 00:20:46.970 --> 00:20:50.410 he had said this, he breathed on them and said 00:20:50.410 --> 00:20:55.750 to them, receive the Holy Spirit. Time out. April, 00:20:55.809 --> 00:20:59.450 leave that up there. This is almost as weird 00:20:59.450 --> 00:21:02.390 as Jesus spitting on the mud, putting it on the 00:21:02.390 --> 00:21:04.529 blind guy's eyes, and then telling him to go 00:21:04.529 --> 00:21:08.039 wash off. Is it not? Because... I know some of 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:10.160 you, you don't like when people come and talk 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.619 to you, right? Especially if they come and talk 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:14.539 to you close. And you all know those people, 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:17.259 right? You all know those kind of close talkers, 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:19.380 right? That they're like, personal space, what 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:22.480 is that? You know, and they, whatever. But understand, 00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:25.920 what Jesus is doing, this is a commissioning 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:30.240 before the commission. And why is Jesus doing 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.220 it? Why in the world would Jesus be doing it 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:40.750 this way? Where else do we see breath in the 00:21:40.750 --> 00:21:44.349 scripture? For lunch and a conversation with 00:21:44.349 --> 00:21:48.329 Pastor Jim, where else do we see this intentionality 00:21:48.329 --> 00:21:51.190 of, Bree, Ken, you can't answer. Where else do 00:21:51.190 --> 00:21:53.230 we see it? Randy, you answered too many. Let's 00:21:53.230 --> 00:21:55.890 give someone else a shot. And you're a BSF, so, 00:21:55.990 --> 00:21:59.789 yeah, you're almost a seminarian. Janet, you're 00:21:59.789 --> 00:22:05.170 on staff. She didn't say anything. Anyone else? 00:22:06.190 --> 00:22:09.960 Okay, you. Scuts, you can't answer, okay? Let's 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:14.279 just put it that way. You're an elder, Brent. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:19.539 We've been here before. Balcony people. Sorry, 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:22.880 floor, main floor, you're exempt. Balcony people, 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:28.440 where else do we see this? Adam, what does that 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:33.440 mean? You're right there. We're in the restaurant. 00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:38.309 You even have the menu. How did Adam get created? 00:22:39.730 --> 00:22:42.029 God breathed life into him. You can leave the 00:22:42.029 --> 00:22:46.609 tip. But understand, this is creation language, 00:22:46.829 --> 00:22:50.509 right? This is creation language. Genesis 2, 00:22:50.630 --> 00:22:53.329 where God breathed life into Adam. Now Christ 00:22:53.329 --> 00:22:57.009 breathes new life, resurrected life, into his 00:22:57.009 --> 00:23:00.829 disciples. The peace we carry is not on our own 00:23:00.829 --> 00:23:04.539 strength, but it's by the Spirit. Because guess 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:06.900 what? If you forgive people, you're forgiving 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:09.599 people because the Holy Spirit has regenerated 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:12.319 forgiveness in you. Because you can't give what 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:16.980 you don't have. With Christ, you have it. The 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:19.000 peace we carry is not in our own strength, but 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:21.299 by the Holy Spirit. The Canons of Dort, article, 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:25.640 or head, 3 and 4, article 11, says this. When 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:28.660 God accomplishes his good pleasure in his chosen 00:23:28.660 --> 00:23:32.380 ones, the church, He powerfully enlightens their 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:35.339 minds by the Holy Spirit so that they may rightly 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:39.019 understand and discern the things of the Spirit 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:43.299 of God. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:47.700 and share the peace of Christ even in a chaotic 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:52.420 world. So peace is personal, right? Peace has 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:54.359 a purpose. Let me go back and look at all my 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:57.440 points so far. Peace is personal. Peace has a 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:01.200 purpose. Peace empowers. And what did I read 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:05.400 right before we prayed? Matthew 25. To me, one 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:07.720 of the two great commissions that we have from 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:11.660 Jesus. One way we walk this out, church, is peace 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:15.700 for the wounded. John 20, 24 to 28 says this. 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:19.259 Now Thomas, one of the 12, called the twin, was 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:22.039 not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciple 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:24.970 told him, we have seen the Lord. But he said 00:24:24.970 --> 00:24:28.289 to them, unless I see in his hands the marks 00:24:28.289 --> 00:24:32.109 of the nail and place my finger into the mark 00:24:32.109 --> 00:24:34.829 of the nails and place my hand into his side, 00:24:34.950 --> 00:24:38.569 I will never believe. Eight days later, his disciples 00:24:38.569 --> 00:24:42.549 were inside again and Thomas was with them. Although 00:24:42.549 --> 00:24:45.829 the doors was locked, Jesus came and stood among 00:24:45.829 --> 00:24:48.670 them and said, peace be with you. And he said 00:24:48.670 --> 00:24:51.480 to Thomas. Put your finger here and see my hands, 00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:54.380 and put out your hand and place it in my side. 00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:58.519 Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered 00:24:58.519 --> 00:25:06.940 him, My Lord and my God. We all come today wounded. 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:10.619 Though we put on our Sunday best, Easter best, 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:14.059 right? For some of us, we may have plans afterwards. 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:18.019 Don't worry, I am wrapping it up. Understand. 00:25:18.809 --> 00:25:21.869 That the peace that Jesus gives us is first and 00:25:21.869 --> 00:25:27.250 foremost for the wounded. He meets Thomas in 00:25:27.250 --> 00:25:32.730 his doubt. Now before we get to that point, just 00:25:32.730 --> 00:25:36.750 a side note. I always wonder why Thomas wasn't 00:25:36.750 --> 00:25:41.470 there. I mean, I get doubt. I do. And I think 00:25:41.470 --> 00:25:43.650 all of us can resonate with Thomas in this doubt 00:25:43.650 --> 00:25:47.539 at times and things in our life. I wish we would 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:50.779 know why Thomas wasn't there. Had that doubt 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:53.259 just taken him over that he had just given up? 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:56.799 I don't know. But understanding that the disciples 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.960 go and tell Thomas, right, so I'm sure he's intrigued. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:03.400 Again, locked door, they're still afraid. But 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:06.859 Thomas is there. Jesus is intentional and personal 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:11.980 and meets us in that place. Jesus doesn't shame 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:16.200 him, but shows up for him. So what does this 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:18.759 tell us today? That Jesus meets us in our doubt. 00:26:18.900 --> 00:26:21.839 And in doing so, he brings peace to our wounds, 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:25.480 to our doubts, to our anxiety, to our anxious 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:31.000 rhythms of life. He breathes peace over us into 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:36.079 all of those things. Do you believe that? You 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:39.180 see, that's Easter peace. It's not just doctrine. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:42.700 We can know all of the depths of this book. You 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:46.759 can love the catechisms and the three forms of 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:50.599 unity, the Westminster, all of the reformed confessions 00:26:50.599 --> 00:26:53.539 that we have. They're all good things, all standing 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:55.779 on the word of God. Without the word of God, 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:59.960 those documents mean nothing. But this morning's 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:05.019 not about doctrine. It's about peace. It's about 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:09.009 new life. It's a living person. who meets us 00:27:09.009 --> 00:27:13.609 in locked rooms, who breathes life into our fears 00:27:13.609 --> 00:27:19.269 and sends us out to bring peace to the most chaotic 00:27:19.269 --> 00:27:22.089 worlds we can imagine. And that's going to be 00:27:22.089 --> 00:27:25.089 different for all of us. So how do we do it? 00:27:26.250 --> 00:27:29.150 Well, it's easy. And I've already said it once, 00:27:29.190 --> 00:27:31.789 I'll say it again. You have peace if you have 00:27:31.789 --> 00:27:37.759 Jesus, so now go be peace. Whoa, time out. Some 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:40.660 of you do not like that because you don't want 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:45.839 that responsibility. I love you, but tough. If 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:48.619 you have Jesus, you have peace. Now we are called 00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:52.140 to go be peace. How? How do we do this? Well, 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:55.299 let's follow that logic. You've been reconciled. 00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:59.160 Now go be a reconciler. I don't care if that's 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:01.500 not a word. It might be. I don't care. You understand. 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:06.519 2 Corinthians reminds us. All of this, all this 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:09.420 is from God who through Christ reconciled us 00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:13.339 to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:17.960 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:20.660 to himself. Not counting their trespasses against 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:25.460 them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:30.859 That is amazing. I have yet to find a church 00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:34.450 that has a reconciliation ministry. We know ministry 00:28:34.450 --> 00:28:37.089 is called that, but what does this even look 00:28:37.089 --> 00:28:39.089 like in life? Is this a group of people walking 00:28:39.089 --> 00:28:41.809 down the road going, I am so sorry, I am so sorry, 00:28:41.950 --> 00:28:44.230 I am so sorry, I am so sorry. No, that's super 00:28:44.230 --> 00:28:48.430 awkward and weird. But the church should be the 00:28:48.430 --> 00:28:51.589 message of reconciliation. Why? Because we've 00:28:51.589 --> 00:28:54.750 been reconciled. And we've not been reconciled 00:28:54.750 --> 00:28:56.990 so we can hold it over other people and just 00:28:56.990 --> 00:28:59.609 throw the stones of judgment or skip them like 00:28:59.609 --> 00:29:05.539 stones into a river. Jesus didn't just give you 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:08.660 peace for your own soul. He entrusted you with 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:12.700 the ministry of reconciliation. So just as you've 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:15.359 been reconciled with God, you are now called 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:19.079 to be an instrument of peace. Watch out in your 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:22.680 home, in your church, because there's never drama 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:30.809 in church. Okay, you got it? And your communities. 00:29:30.829 --> 00:29:34.690 Whatever your community looks like. You are to 00:29:34.690 --> 00:29:40.930 be the lightning rod of peace in your life. Yet 00:29:40.930 --> 00:29:42.769 we want to judge other people. Wow, they're just 00:29:42.769 --> 00:29:47.369 drama kings and queens. No. You are the lightning 00:29:47.369 --> 00:29:50.170 rod of peace. Wherever you are. Because if you 00:29:50.170 --> 00:29:52.890 have Jesus, that means you have peace. Now you 00:29:52.890 --> 00:29:55.390 need to go and be the embodiment of peace for 00:29:55.390 --> 00:29:58.980 a world around you. Yes, and we all should be 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:01.880 feeling bad right now. Happy Easter. I do too. 00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:07.339 Because we don't do it well. We don't. Yet God 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:12.400 is showing us ways to do it. God has called you 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:14.539 to be an instrument of peace in your home, your 00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:18.200 church, and your community. I kind of want to 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:23.460 say, whether you like it or not. How? How are 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:25.680 we supposed to do this, Pastor Jim? Okay, well, 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:28.940 second, you have the Holy Spirit. Now walk by 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:32.339 the Spirit of peace. Father, Son, Spirit, all 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:35.180 bringing peace, embodying peace in you. Now go 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:38.539 walk it out. Galatians 5. But the fruit of the 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:41.000 Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, 00:30:41.140 --> 00:30:43.480 goodness, faithfulness, and there's more. You 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:47.420 get it. Peace is not just a status we receive. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:52.059 It's a fruit we produce when we walk with Christ. 00:30:52.990 --> 00:30:55.710 The Holy Spirit breathed out by Jesus empowers 00:30:55.710 --> 00:30:58.809 us to live peaceably even in a world that is 00:30:58.809 --> 00:31:02.230 chaotic. Even in a world that will say, I don't 00:31:02.230 --> 00:31:05.190 want your brand of peace. Because they want to 00:31:05.190 --> 00:31:10.849 do it themselves. So friends, don't just leave 00:31:10.849 --> 00:31:13.190 this Easter celebration with peace in your heart 00:31:13.190 --> 00:31:16.829 and go, ah, this feels great. Ah, just me and 00:31:16.829 --> 00:31:19.450 Jesus. He's taking the wheel because I love that 00:31:19.450 --> 00:31:21.740 song. And I'm just going to live it out that 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:23.819 way. No, because he's going to drive you to places 00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:27.480 where you need to bring peace. That's the cool 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:31.660 and crazy thing about believing in Jesus. Because 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:34.500 he calls you to be peace yourself. In your workplace, 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:37.920 where tensions run high. In your family, where 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:41.299 forgiveness is needed. In your church, where 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:46.220 unity is the witness to a divided world. So I 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:48.559 bump up the practical application before I close. 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:51.140 Again, as we've done the rhythm of this sermon 00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:53.319 series, for the head, for the hands, and the 00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:57.039 heart. This Easter, know that Easter peace is 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:59.579 not dependent on your circumstances, but on the 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:02.880 finished work of Christ. His wounds are your 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:07.259 assurance of that peace. For the heart, carry 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:10.259 this peace into your lives, or carry this peace 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:13.220 into the lives of others. Who is locked in fear 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:16.460 around you? Who needs to hear peace be with you 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:20.250 in the name of Jesus? And finally, for the hands, 00:32:20.410 --> 00:32:23.009 let the resurrection peace of Christ calm your 00:32:23.009 --> 00:32:26.950 fears, quiet your doubts, and stir your worship. 00:32:27.190 --> 00:32:34.049 He is your peace. So friends, as we conclude 00:32:34.049 --> 00:32:36.890 the What's in the Name series today, and we jump 00:32:36.890 --> 00:32:41.970 into a book that I'm going to guess 97 % of us 00:32:41.970 --> 00:32:44.130 have never dove into. We're going to go through 00:32:44.130 --> 00:32:46.990 the entire book of Zephaniah starting next week. 00:32:47.130 --> 00:32:51.099 Get ready. But as we conclude this series, here 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:55.519 Jesus has revealed names to us again. Our bread 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:58.900 of life. Our door of protection and salvation. 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:02.240 The good shepherd. The resurrection in the life. 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:05.259 The way, the truth, and the life. Our advocate, 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:09.319 our king, and now our peace. Don't forget our 00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:13.220 joy from Maundy Thursday. Each name is not only 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:16.539 who Jesus is, but what he gives to those who 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:20.000 belong to him. So this morning, church, rejoice. 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:25.079 Jesus is risen. He is your joy and your peace. 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:31.539 And now go. Go in his name. Sent in his name. 00:33:31.619 --> 00:33:34.900 Go with his spirit and sent by his spirit. Go 00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:41.420 as your peace to give peace. This Easter, Jesus 00:33:41.420 --> 00:33:47.390 does the same for us. The risen Lord stands in 00:33:47.390 --> 00:33:50.690 our midst, not as a ghost, not as a memory, but 00:33:50.690 --> 00:33:54.089 as your literal peace in this life. And oh, what 00:33:54.089 --> 00:33:57.769 a gift it is to a world that desperately needs 00:33:57.769 --> 00:33:58.869 it. Let's pray.