Easter in a Nutshell—Peace!

2nd Sunday of Easter, 4/19/20
John 20:19-31


Easter in a Nutshell—Peace!
I. Peace received
II. Peace shared


“In a nutshell.” I’m fairly sure you’re familiar with that phrase. You’ve probably used it more than a few times yourself. But did you know that this phrase is almost as old as these words of our sermon text from John 20?

It only took a minute of searching on Google to find out that the phrase “in a nutshell” originated with the Roman author Pliny, who likely died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Two years earlier, in commenting on the Iliad, Pliny used the phrase “in a nutshell” to indicate that he was briefly summarizing his thoughts. His thoughts were brief enough to held in a nutshell, if that were possible.

And ever since then, people have been borrowing his phrase to do the same. “In a nutshell,”—this is what the event, the problem, the celebration, was all about.

I realize that people in our world weren’t able to celebrate Easter the way they normally would or wanted to this past Sunday. But the news media reported that Christians around the world still celebrated it. And maybe I’m a little naïve, but I’d like to think that it you asked those Christians what Easter is about, they would quickly reply, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ.” And I might be a little pessimistic, but if you asked them what his resurrection means for them, they might struggle to give you an answer, at least a biblically correct answer.

But how about you? If you were asked to summarize what Easter means for you, would you be able to give an answer? What is Easter in a nutshell? Well, if you listened carefully as today’s Gospel was read, or, if you looked at the sermon theme in your worship folder, you know. Easter in a nutshell is peace! But just what kind of peace are we talking about here? Follow with me as we delve into this Easter evening account before us this morning.

Part I.

This past week, I listened to several Easter sermons online, and every one of them mentioned the word “threat.” And with good reason. If you don’t feel threatened by this pandemic we’re in, you’re either too young to know it or your mental limitations are preventing you from realizing it. We’re threatened by it. But that’s really nothing new. As soon as COVID-19 fades away, trust me, there will be another threat.

The followers of Jesus on Easter evening knew how you feel. Did you catch it when I read these words of our text a few minutes ago? Let me repeat them. “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews…” The doors of the house they were in were locked because they were afraid. They felt threatened. And John tells us the source of their fears: “the Jews.” Why were they afraid of their fellow Jews?

First, John is referring only to a small segment of the Jewish population—the Jews who were in power. Recall what had happened that morning. The Roman soldiers reported the truth. An angel appeared and rolled away the stone of the tomb, and the tomb was empty. Eyewitness account. And the Jewish rulers’ spin on that event? They paid the Roman soldiers to spread the report that Jesus’ disciples had stolen his body. That tomb had been sealed with Pilate’s official Roman seal. This false report put the disciples into grave danger. They were filled with fear.

But what else was going on in their hearts and minds? Well, what would you be thinking and feeling if you had followed Jesus for three years as his disciple, if you had witnessed his miracles and heard his words of truth, if you had high hopes for Jesus as your Messiah? You’d feel let down, confused, and disappointed. What’s more, he had told them they would all flee from him when he needed them most, which they denied would ever happen. But at the first sign of trouble that’s what they did. And that’s the last time most of them had seen Jesus alive. Not the way you want to be remembered. They were embarrassed and ashamed.

But then reports came in from the women and a few others that they had seen Jesus alive that morning. But about 12 hours had passed. Suddenly two of his followers had just entered the room and told them that they had walked and talked with Jesus on the way to Emmaus. And you don’t know what to believe, think, or do about any of it.

And then, there he is! Right in front of you! John, who was there, reports, “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again, Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you!’” There’s Easter in a nutshell! Jesus asserts it twice. Peace! But what is he talking about?

First and foremost, he’s talking about the peace he established between sinners and the holy God. His death on Calvary three days earlier was the punishment for all sins of all sinners. Sinners have peace with God!

And, how that peace was needed right then and there! As I said, these followers of Jesus had no idea what to think, most of all about their relationship with Jesus. They had abandoned him in the worst way. They were unworthy to be called his disciples. But Jesus assured them, “Peace! I have nothing against you and neither does my Father.”

You see, this peace which Jesus shares is more than a common biblical greeting. The Jews still greet each other with the word, “Shalom!” which means “peace.” But Jesus wasn’t simply greeting them. He was actually giving them the peace they needed. His peace is nothing other than the gospel, the good news that he is the world’s Savior from sin. The gospel of Jesus doesn’t only announce peace to us, it works peace in us. It creates and sustains saving faith in him as our Savior from sin. On the basis of the gospel, our God has nothing against us. All is well! Peace!

There’s Easter in a nutshell—peace! Peace received.

Our text goes on to relate that Thomas wasn’t present that evening. He wasn’t there to receive the peace that Jesus wanted to give him.

Do you ever feel “left out” of the peace of Jesus? Well, maybe not right now as you are focusing on his words of peace, but is that only a momentary cease-fire in the spiritual war that goes on inside you? Which of us hasn’t experienced some disaster and wondered, “What have I done to deserve this, God?” Or, who hasn’t felt the crush of guilt over not saying something difficult but true to a loved one because we’re certain it will damage our relationship? And how often have we piled on the self-hate for falling into that sin we promised we would avoid for good? If I haven’t uncovered your peace-disturber, I’m sure you know what it is. And that’s when Jesus suddenly appears in the room and declares, “Peace!” Recall that he announced that peace to followers who had failed him miserably. Followers like me, like you. A crucified and risen Jesus is our peace and nothing can take it away. That peace is for you! That’s Easter in a nutshell. Peace received.

Part II.

I heard it last Thursday morning in a PSA on TV. It encouraged people not to worry or be afraid because science was going to figure this out.

Science is a blessing from God, but science isn’t God. Science is useful in solving our world’s problems, but it can’t solve every problem.

And that’s why Jesus didn’t send his followers out into the world only after they had earned advanced degrees in science. Instead, he sent them out, as they were, with the gospel.

Listen to how that happened. Jesus said, “’As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’” First, he made a special point of sending them out with the power of the Holy Spirit. These people, as his believers, already had the Holy Spirit living in them. But this outpouring of the Holy Spirit bestowed on them an office—a position of service to others. And that office was to share the news of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ.

And notice that Jesus doesn’t limit that office to certain of his people. If you have the peace of Jesus through the forgiveness of your sins, then you are qualified and empowered to share that peace of the forgiveness of sins with anyone and everyone. Your Easter peace is not to be hoarded like some young child with a basket full of candy. Easter peace is peace to share with everyone. And that’s a peace that never runs out. It springs eternally from the Easter fount of salvation which began flooding over the world when Jesus rose from the dead and left the tomb empty. He calls each and every one of us to share that peace.

That’s Easter in a nutshell—peace shared.

So, what do people need today more than ever? If you look only on the surface of things, our world needs a vaccine, people need jobs, millions need food, everyone feels the need for life to get back to “normal” as quickly as possible.

But our biggest problem is sin and it will always be that way no matter how good or how bad things are currently in our world. And that means forgiveness of sins is still our world’s greatest need and the peace that forgiveness brings now and forever. You have received that peace by God’s grace. It’s peace for you to enjoy, thanks be to God! But it’s also yours to share. Look for golden opportunities to do just that. Remind fretful friends and neighbors that Jesus’s death and resurrection have established a peace for them that no one and nothing can take from them. Literally EVERYTHING is going to be OK, perfect even. That’s Easter in a nutshell! Amen.