Receive His Spirit [Now What? 01]
John 20:19-23 // Tom Nelson
As Jesus appears to his disciples, he greets them with one word that emotionally changes everything. It was the Hebrew word, shalom which is translated here in English as peace. Shalom is much more than an absence of conflict like we mostly use the word peace today. Shalom embodies the presence, power, and proximity of the kingdom life Jesus was inaugurating in the world through his atoning death and death-defying resurrection. The word Shalom here directly connects Easter with Eden. In the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis we encounter the original creation garden of Eden which means delight. The Garden of Eden was a place where original creation happened, but not only a place but a comprehensive reality when all was well in the world, all was as God designed and desired his very good creation to be. Before sin and death brought disintegration and death to God’s good world and to his crown of creation. With just this one-word greeting, the resurrected Jesus makes this connection with his awestruck disciples. Jesus is saying, I am who I said I am, I have done what I have come to do. Remember on the cross, I said it was finished. I meant it. It is in me you can have the flourishing life your heart longs for.
As Jesus appears to his disciples, he greets them with one word that emotionally changes everything. It was the Hebrew word, shalom which is translated here in English as peace. Shalom is much more than an absence of conflict like we mostly use the word peace today. Shalom embodies the presence, power, and proximity of the kingdom life Jesus was inaugurating in the world through his atoning death and death-defying resurrection. The word Shalom here directly connects Easter with Eden. In the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis we encounter the original creation garden of Eden which means delight. The Garden of Eden was a place where original creation happened, but not only a place but a comprehensive reality when all was well in the world, all was as God designed and desired his very good creation to be. Before sin and death brought disintegration and death to God’s good world and to his crown of creation. With just this one-word greeting, the resurrected Jesus makes this connection with his awestruck disciples. Jesus is saying, I am who I said I am, I have done what I have come to do. Remember on the cross, I said it was finished. I meant it. It is in me you can have the flourishing life your heart longs for.
Sermon Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49052676
Prayer Requests: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new
23.04.16