Category Archives: time of testing

one in Christ., peace of God, reconciled all things in heaven and on the earth in Jesus., Shalom, time of testing, time of trial, twelve disciples names

The Messiah’s Secret – Shalom – Peace

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The  Messiah’s Secret – Shalom – Peace
  Before they entered the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus had prayed that his disciples would still believe in him after his arrest, his trial and crucifixion, and as a result of his prayer they came together in the house at Jerusalem.

Children’s short talk with a visual aid:   an orange  

              
The orange represents the church. 

The peel that holds all the orange is like Jesus’ love holding them all together in his name                                                                                                                                              

REMOVE OUTER PAPER 
The segments contain goodness of the orange. the juice and the seeds
The segments of the orange represents the disciples of Jesus. I’ve put on the names of the twelve disciples: Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, Philip, Matthew, Simon the Cananaean Judas, James the son of Alphaeus, Bartholomew, and Thaddaeus.                                                                                                                                

REMOVE TWO SEGMENTS    
Two disciples were missing: Judas and Thomas (pull out two segments) Do you know why they were missing?  Answer: Judas, he was the one who had betrayed to the ruling authorities and died shortly afterwards by taking his own life                                                                                                                                        
Thomas was not there, he had doubts about the resurrection, he did not believe until he saw the risen Jesus 8 days later.

Later Matthias took Judas’ place.

PUT BACK TWO SEGMENTS.

So now they were together Jesus prayer is for us to that we should be one in him

So when we pray on behalf of Jesus for someone or something we pray add his name to our prayer, we end our prayer: in Jesus’ name. Amen and we can expect that our prayers will be answered. 

                                                                            
1 Peter 1: 3-9.  John 20: 19 – 23.

Peter wrote in his letter of a Christians faith being tested going through time of trial. He spoke from his own experience when he denied knowing Jesus in Caiaphas’ courtyard and seeing Jesus brought to trial, crucified and buried in a tomb.
                                                                                                                                                 

On the evening of the day of the resurrection the disciple’s faith in Jesus had been severely tested by his crucifixion, even though he had told them he was going to be die at Jerusalem and rise on the third day they did not understand what he had said.
In verse 9, “As of yet they did not know the scripture that he must rise from the dead, this I call the Messiah’s secret. God had hidden Jesus’ death and resurrection from their understanding because Jesus had to die on the tree of crucifixion and be raised from the dead.  

So they were taken by surprise when Jesus appeared before them in the house at Jerusalem, they must have been flabbergasted, especially when he spoke saying  “Peace be with you,” “Peace be with you,” and he then showed them his hands and his side, how they must have rejoiced within themselves. 
Shalom – a greeting of peace – St Paul in all his letters gave a greeting of peace and Peter in verse 2 of our reading wrote, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance”.
Shalom – farewell, goodbye Again Paul’s letters most not all of them ended with the peace, shalom. In his letter to the church at Philippi he wrote, ”And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.” Phil 4: 7.

Shalom is God’s peace that passes all understanding, it embraces the welfare of the whole of creation. God brought peace to the universe through Jesus: St Paul wrote,  “And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of his cross” Colossians 1: 20 

Throughout the Bible there is a legal aspect running through. God always seeks justice rather than imposing his will on creation.
Shortly after the creation there was rebellion in heaven, Jesus confirmed Isaiah words, when he said that he saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. Isaiah wrote concerning Satan the Cherubim, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of the Dawn! How you are cut to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit.” Isaiah 14: 12-15.    
On the cross Jesus Legally won the victory over the forces of the rebellion through his precious blood, the life of the living God, as a result Jesus has brought peace in the universe. It has also brought reconciliation between God and humanity.  
Forgiveness and the peace are at the heart of Christian message.  
To the church at Rome Paul wrote, “Therefore since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through faith in Jesus repenting of our sin before God enables us to receive his forgiveness, as a result we are justified, declared not guilty of any sin, and reconciled to God.                                                                                               

TO EXPLAIN

 In 2010 I was penalised for speeding, I had a choice either to pay the fine or spend a day at Preston on a Speed Awareness Course, to be convicted of my driving sins, so I chose Preston. At the end of the day I had repented of my driving sins, as a result the points on my licence were cancelled out, so likewise Jesus has legally cancelled out my sin. And I have received a blessing as well.

Just as Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit, so he breathes the Holy Spirit on us and fills us with great love, joy and peace.  God’s peace is complete in us and inspires peace of mind, satisfaction and good health.                                                                        


Sustained in peace by keeping our eyes focused on Jesus, Isaiah wrote, “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.”  Isaiah 26: 3

In the 1990’s I met an Anglican Nun Sister Irene Mary, whose eyes were focused on Jesus. I met her through the pottery that I produced with Bible texts. On one occasion I called at her house with a pottery order and when she opened the door and greeted me the peace of God came from her.  
That same peace becomes apparent when we are going through a troubled time, caught up in a storm that is raging around us, then Jesus stills our storm and peace and calm follows, we are comforted by Jesus’ words,  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14: 27.                                                                                                                             

Peter wrote in v 5 “Who through faith are shielded by God’s power.” God’s power is in his name. Jesus prayer in John 17: 11 “ Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one.”
Jesus’ oneness with his Father is like the orange is one with the orange tree, we have that continuity

The visual aid of the orange portraits Jesus one with his church All the segments stuck together, unified one in Jesus. St Paul in his letter to the church at Rome wrote that we are individually members of the body of Christ and individually members of one another.  Each containing the Spirit of God’s goodness, the righteous love of God and bearing the seeds of faith that contain the words about Jesus and when sown into a person’s heart that person has the potential to be like Jesus.        

 Christians making up the whole orange.

Jesus said, “I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16: 33.
We are overcomers in Christ.

Jesus had prayed for their perfect unity, perfectly one, so God had answered Jesus’ prayer that the disciples should be kept together in their faith in him.

The church in the world will be perfectly one when Jesus returns, and all who confess that Jesus is Lord will be forever with the Lord.