Andrea loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoys cycling on the open roads with her husband, David.
Prince Of Peace By Andrea Marino
Where is peace to be found in a world of trouble and chaos, where evil appears to have the upper hand? Nothing new; Jesus told the disciples the ruler of this world was coming and He would not be talking with them much longer. (John 14:30). Twice in John, Chapter 14, Jesus tells them not to be troubled, adding ‘or fearful’, the second time (John 14:1, 27b). I wonder how much the disciples understood as to what was about to take place. Hearing the Lord speak of His betrayal, also that He was going away and coming back (John chapter 13), questions arose in their minds. “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5 NIV). What does He mean when He says, “In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,” and “I am going to the Father.” (John 16:17 NLS)? Wasn’t this Jesus the Messiah, come to save them from the oppression of their enemies? In all the misunderstanding, Jesus offered His peace. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” (John 14:27 HCS). Peace is the message of the cross. Jesus’ perfect life, sacrificed in death, gives the ability to have peace with God. The ruler of this world has no power over the Lord. Thank God for Christmas. Jesus has come to save us all.
We who are alive today have the advantage of the written Word, regarding events that took place when Jesus first walked upon the earth. As for the first disciples, they had to walk through faith. Hearing about His rising from the dead must have sounded odd, even unbelievable. However, witnessing the Lord bring people back to life was no doubt spectacular. Thirty-five years ago, when my brother passed away, my family prayed for God to restore life to him. We believed in Heaven, yet our hope was for a Lazarus happening in the here and now. How joyous it would have been had God granted the miracle. But the resurrection truly needed is something more earth-shattering, far greater than a mere extension of our temporary existence. While death is not something we care to consider; we need to consider it. If my brother had been brought back to life in 1986, the question of what lies beyond the grave would have continued to taunt me. After watching the movie, Bambi, at age five, death hung over me as a black cloud. In Psalm 116.3, King David describes terrors of the grave as ropes around him. It isn’t the worst thing to see trouble and sorrow surrounding us, because the moment we are born, there is a personal death sentence upon us. We need the Lord. Still, if our hope in Christ is for this life only, we are to be pitied. (2 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 15:19).
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