Why Jesus?

• Why He came to us
• Why we respond to Him

Advent = coming or arrival

• Hope
• Peace
• Joy
• Love

Luke 2:14

When you imagine peace - what does it look like?

Isaiah 9:6

- Shalom = peace = wholeness, completeness, restoration

John 20:19:

• The disciples are afraid, uncertain and full of doubt - but they are together!
• Jesus says: Peace be with you!
• world peace = the absence of conflict
• Jesus peace = the presence of Himself

Psalm 139:7

John 20:20:

• Jesus give tangible proof of His resurrection

John 20:21:

• Jesus is making a point by repeating, “Peace be with you!”

John 20:22:

• echos back to Genesis 2 and forward to Acts 2

John 14:27

John 16:33

Where do we need the peace Jesus offers?

• staccato vs. sustained

Where is God calling you to be an agent of peacemaking?

Two potentially practical next steps:

1. Build bridges

• listen twice as much as you speak
• focus on the message of Jesus not the news
• allow the unconditional love and the uncompromising truth of Jesus to invade your life and conversations
• pray for the presence of God in the lives of others
• John 20:21

2. Establish routines

• Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. - Dallas Willard
• set boundaries
• turn off your phone and the TV for family time
• read the scriptures
• do an Advent devotion
• practice silence
• these things can realign our hearts with the heart of The Lord

Remember - true peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of Jesus!  Invite The Lord to be present in your life!