Peace, a gift the world cannot give - This is my story, Week 4
“18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
On the evening of the resurrection, despite the miraculous news from Mary Magdalene, the disciples locked themselves in fear. The empty tomb had been confirmed, Jesus had appeared, yet their hearts remained unchanged. They were still overwhelmed by anxiety and trauma from Jesus’ crucifixion. Just like them, many of us today live under fear and uncertainty, even after hearing the Gospel. The question is not whether we’ve heard the good news but whether it’s truly changed us.
Jesus appears among the fearful disciples and says, “Peace be with you.” But what kind of peace does Jesus offer? The world offers Pax—peace achieved through control, conditions, and strength. But Jesus offers Shalom—peace that comes from being whole, restored in relationship with God. Shalom is not circumstantial; it is spiritual, deep, and eternal. We must examine whether we are chasing Pax, thinking peace will come when all things are in order, or whether we are seeking Shalom that remains even when life is not.
Just like Mary who found the living Jesus when she was looking for a dead body, true peace is found when we encounter the living God. In moments of discouragement, like Jackie Robinson in the film 42, we need a “dugout”—a place where we cry out, are reminded of who we are, and are strengthened to go back into the field. For me, that dugout has been my quiet place of prayer, where I meet the living Jesus who tells me, “Peace be with you.” When we meet the living God, He breathes Shalom into our soul.
Dear church, do not settle for a temporary Pax when Jesus offers you eternal Shalom. Find your dugout—your time and place to be still and meet God. Lay down your fears, your striving, and your burdens, and listen as Jesus says, “Peace be with you.” Seek the living God, and you will live in the peace that only He can give.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)