The Peace Passes Understanding…..
I could not walk past this wood carving of Jesus. One hand
is nailed. The other hands down a dove. Jesus hands down peace from the cross. It comes from John’s major theme:
Peace I leave with you; my peace
I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts
be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27
The wood carving conveys that the peace which Jesus gives is
not from the world. Even more. It comes out of the world’s most painful
experiences and deepest of trials.
The
book, The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos
Kazantzakis, was made into the movie which offended many people. (The
book had been out a long time, but since nobody reads, it took the movie to
reach people!) Jesus goes to the cross,
but then accepts the temptation to come down from the cross before he dies. He learns that he does not want the world
devoid of God’s peace which comes from doing his will. The point is that the peace of Jesus is given
by him—we don’t have to literally die on our self-made crosses. We can see life’s pains and losses as a time
to live with Jesus and the peace he gives knowing that we do not have to do
anything—but accept it.
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