Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Commissioning by the Risen Lord
John 20:19-23
  V. Rev Dr. D. Philip
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 
On the first day of the week, Jesus broke the darkness. On that Friday noon, darkness came over the whole land (Matt.27:45) declaring that Love, Justice and God has no space in this world. When the loved one was betrayed with a kiss, the very symbol of love, Love lost its space. When a person publically proclaimed innocent was given the cruelest capital punishment, Justice was given away. Where there is no justice there is no peace. When the one to be worshipped was buried and the worshipping community observed the Sabbath, God Himself lost His space.  When there is no Love, Justice, Peace and God, there is darkness. The first day of the week, the resurrection, declares the final victory of Love, Justice and God. And again, the evening came, signifying the presence of the power of darkness and the closed doors despair and lack of hope in the disciples to confront this darkness. Here appears the risen Christ, comforting, communicating and commissioning.
Comforting Christ: Jesus appears before the disciples in the closed room and bids peace. The closed room indicates the restricted opportunities. Jesus entering there, points to the possibilities in the seeming impossibilities and limitations. The wounded hands say that the peace He offers is not the absence of struggles instead the comforting presence amidst the wounds of darkness in the world. That is the Christian Joy.
Communicating Christ: There is no peace where there is sin and guilt and no peace is possible without sacrifice. The wounds communicate that ‘I have paid the price for your peace’. A life lived without sin, relentlessly confronting the forces of darkness, proclaiming the Kingdom of God where Justice based on love is established.
Commissioning Christ: “As the father sent me, so I sent you” is the commissioning given to the disciples to continue as the peace bearers. In the journey of creating peace, they may also share the wounds of Christ. But they are empowered by the Holy Spirit who will equip them to carry out the mission so that the world experiences love, justice and God.

PRAYER

Lord, Thank You for leading us to a higher level of comfort that transcends the wounds of the world, for communicating the essence of peace through Your life and for commissioning us to be the witness of Your resurrection.Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Church exists for mission as fire is for burning” Emil Brunner


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