John 16:33
[Jesus said to his disciples] “33I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”
“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace.” Jesus has just finished telling his disciples that he has come from the Father and will again go to the Father. He wants them to know what is coming, and that he has told them these things in order that they might have peace in him. This is a time of year when we sing “Peace on Earth!” and we send cards to one another with greetings for peace and love, hope and joy. But so often, the world we see around us doesn’t reflect the peace we desire – and our wishes are for future dreams more than today’s reality.
But every Sunday when we gather, we proclaim, “The Peace of the Lord be with you always!” And people respond, “And also with you!” (Exclamation points added for emphasis.) And then we shake hands or hug or exchange another sign of peace with one another. In Christ, we have peace. In the Lord, that dream of peace isn’t a far-off wish, but a present-day reality. Regardless of what the world brings, we have peace in the Lord.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Jenn
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