Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
“Peace be with you!”
John’s gospel does not mention the word “peace” very often. The first time is in chapter 14 when Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Later, in chapter 16 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In both cases, Jesus contrasts the peace he gives with the world.
We know what the world has to offer. On the whole, it is not a friendly place. The world is full of people who are looking out for “Number One,” themselves. Only Jesus comes to look out for you and me. Only Jesus is willing to die to save you and me.
“As the Father has sent me…”
The Father sent Jesus into the world, knowing that the world is not a nice place. Time and time again Jesus reveals that he is fully aware of what the world is planning on doing to him. He is even aware of the worldly fears of his disciples. He is not surprised when he is betrayed, abandoned, and denied.
“… I am sending you.”
Application: Jesus sends us out into the world. He says, “…I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12: 47b) In the same way, we are not sent into the world to judge the world, but to continue Jesus’ work of saving it.
Food for Thought: Given the condition of the world, how is it possible not to judge the world?
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I think if we can leave the judgment up to God there can be freedom. It is not our job to judge, it is His and He is the One who is truly worthy of doing so. He will judge the world someday. We agree with God and judge that things the world does, or that we do, is evil and wrong. But condemnation is reserved for the One who is truly holy, righteous and pure.
I agree with Rich. Sometimes we confuse judging someone with identifying what is right and what is wrong. The challenge has always been to hate the sin while loving the sinner. A person will not be saved unless he knows what he is being saved from (poor grammar). I remember a preacher once saying (I do not agree with this in the literal sense), “You gotta get ‘em lost before you can get ‘em saved. “
Thank you both for your comments today! I agree with your goals, it is just trying to get there that stumps me some days.