May 21, 1995	Peace I Leave With You	Acts 16:9-15

Revelation 21:10, 21-22:5

John 14:23-29

Our Gospel lesson for today has, as its context, the evening before the crucifixion of our Lord.	And on that evening before the crucifixion Jesus had some very important things to tell his disciples. He knew that his time was getting short, so everything he said to them was loaded with meaning.

In fact, if you knew you were going to die a day or two from now, what important things would you want to tell to your spouse, or to your best friends, or to your parents or children? What would you want to leave with them? Certainly, that is something to think about. For those last things we would want to say would probably be the most important things in our life. And, if they were the most important things in our life, they would probably be things that we should be saying, anyway, today. Would we tell our family that we loved them? If so, then tell them today! Would we tell our children what they mean to us? If so, then we should tell them today!

Jesus was in such a situation on the evening before his crucifixion. And as we look at this morning's Gospel lesson there seemed to be three things playing on his mind: First, he wanted to make certain that the disciples would keep his words. Secondly, he wanted the disciples to expect the filling of the Holy Spirit. And, third, he wanted his disciples to have the peace of God in their hearts.

Certainly all three of these concerns are related. In fact, it makes sense! If we keep the teachings of Christ, then we should expect the filling of God's Spirit; and that should bring peace to our lives. But, let us look at Jesus' first concern:

Jesus wanted to be sure that his disciples remembered and then acted upon the things Jesus had taught them. Obedience is so important in the Christian faith. And, yet, how many of us really take Christ's teachings seriously in our lives? For example, Jesus said, "If someone should strike you on one cheek, you should turn the other cheek." How many of us have actually succeeded in doing that? More often than not we find ourselves striking back at persons who strike out at us. And, certainly we have justified our disobedience, saying things like, "Well, I couldn't help but strike back! He/She had it coming!"

But, Jesus had a reason for giving that teaching to us. The reason may not be all that obvious to us, especially when someone is hurting us, but even so, Christ has his reasons that we should respect, if we love him.

I am reminded of the story of how during the war between the states, General Lee one day sent word to Stonewall Jackson that the next time he rode in the direction of headquarters the Commander in Chief would be glad to see him on a matter of no great importance. General Jackson received the message and immediately prepared to leave the next morning. Rising very early, he rode the eight miles to Lee's headquarters against a storm of wind and snow, and arrived just as Lee was finishing breakfast. Much surprised, Lee inquired why Jackson had come through such a storm.

General Jackson replied, "But you said that you wished to see me." And then he added, "Your slightest wish is a supreme command to me!"

As Jesus was saying farewell to his disciples all the teachings he had delivered to his disciples were going through his mind. How important it was that these few disciples be found faithful in the future, remembering and teachings the words of Jesus! Certainly, it was upon these few persons that the whole future of the church depended. If they would not keep his words, the whole purpose of his life would be wasted! Likewise, we who are Jesus' disciples in the world, today, must do our best to keep Christ's teachings, even if they seem to be unimportant or irrelevant. For Christ had a purpose in each of his teachings. And if we who are Christ's disciples do not live and teach his words in this world, who will? If we do not take Christ seriously, who will? If we who work together here in the Church do not live Christ's words, then who will? If we do not share the gospel with friends and family and community, who will?

Christ knew that if his disciples kept his words and teachings something wonderful would happen. God would send the power of his Spirit into their hearts and they would have his guidance for their lives as well as for the building up of the church. But the question is how may we have God's Spirit in our lives?

The apostle Paul tells us to live victoriously and to avoid excesses of the flesh in order to keep the Spirit moving in our lives. A great preacher once illustrated this truth as follows: "Tell me," he said to his congregation, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump." The preacher replied, "But that would create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After several impossible suggestions, the preacher smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to show that victory in the Christian life is not by "sucking out a sin here and there." Rather it is by being filled with the Spirit.

The fact is that we have a tremendous power awaiting us, if we will but follow the teachings of Jesus. It is a power that is available to all of us, each day, but which is left unused by so many of us. It is kind of like a huge waterfall, like Niagra Fall, for instance. The water in the river above the falls comes crashing and rolling in huge rapids down the river until it reaches the precipice of the falls. Then the water falls hundreds of feet into a huge swirling foam and froth. Imagine the power of the water that tumbles over the falls! It is a power of which only a small part is tapped for making electricity.

Likewise, God's Spirit is available to us for living victorious lives. Yet, how many of us forget that God's power is there? How many of us live our feeble lives, complaining of being tired and weak and helpless, when God's power is there for us?

So, Jesus told his disciples to keep his word, knowing that if they did so they would receive the filling of his Holy Spirit. And this is true for us, as well. But then Jesus told his disciples something else that was amazing: He said, "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."

Peace is something that we all want. But peace is certainly one of the most illusive things in life. Most of us may not have known, for instance, that since 1919 the nations of Europe have signed more than 200 treaties of peace. Each treaty, simply another scrap of paper, was broken more easily than it was made. From the year 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1860 more than 8,000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were made. But, the average time they remained in force was just two years.

So, it is evident that we all want peace. But, unfortunately, the peace we so often want is peace on our terms. The peace that we want is other people leaving us alone while we go on doing whatever we want. The peace that we want is the peace that begins with our neighbor, and not with us.

But, that is where the teachings of Jesus, words that he wanted his disciples to keep are so important. For Jesus said, "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn the other one." In other words, he was saying, "Peace begins with me." And Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." In other words, Jesus was saying, "Peace begins with me." And Jesus said, "If someone asks you to carry his load for a mile, go two miles with him, instead." In other words, "Peace begins with me."

If someone wants to pick a fight with you, you have a choice. Either you can give the other person what he or she wants, thereby giving in to the power and control that the other person has, or you can choose to have peace. And what amazing strength it takes to choose peace over the alternative! The strongest men have failed to make the choice for peace because they simply didn't have strength where they needed it: in their hearts, in their character, in their soul.

Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, who supervised the creation of the first atomic bomb, appeared before a Congressional committee back in 1955. There the congressmen asked him, "if there was any defense against the atomic bomb.

"Certainly," the great physicist replied.

All the congressmen leaned forward awaiting to hear his explanation. "What is the greatest defense against the bomb?" they asked.

Dr. Oppenheimer looked over the hushed, expectant audience and said softly: "Peace."

It seems so simple, doesn't it? We want peace in our lives but we forget that having peace starts with the first person singular — me! It isn't something that is handed to us on a silver platter by our enemies. Rather, it is a frame of mind that can exist even in the midst of the worst turmoil.

Two painters, it is said, each painted a picture to illustrate his concept of peace. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among far-off mountains. The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam. At the fork of a branch, almost wet with the waterfall's spay, a mother robin sat on its nest. The first picture was one of stagnation; the second was one of peace. For in peace there are two elements — tranquility and energy; silence and turbulence; creation and destruction; fearfulness and fearlessness.

And this kind of peace may come to each of us as we keep the words of our Lord, and await the fullness and completeness of his Spirit.

Amen.