Peace

22^nd December 2019 I began to read and write thoughts from this old man and last remaining of the 12 apostles, John. This morning having written through his gospel, the Revelation and now his letters, over 3 years later, I am closing with his final few words. What are they? Someone may just need these words this morning.

The peace of Christ.

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.” (v13-14)

Peace to you.

John had written those words of Jesus when He suddenly appeared behind the locked doors to the disciples as the resurrected Lord: Peace to you!!

John is reminding Gaius that their friendship is founded on this truth of the resurrection. This would be fitting as John has tirelessly written in his letters to uphold the authenticity of the risen Jesus Christ.

As we close off from John’s writing, peace to you also.

You may be in fear behind locked doors; you may think your life is impossible; remember these words of Jesus: Peace to you.

Christ is peace. Nothing else. No one else. Don’t look to the world. You can gain the whole world and you won’t have peace if you don’t have Christ. Your friends may want the very best for you. They want you married, they want you to have children, they want you to have a great job, a house, a car, they want you to be happy, to travel, to experience, to be well. They are good friends. But they don’t understand that the best wish they could ever have for you is that you have Christ. To have Christ is to have peace.

Peace to you.