Playlist:

playlist Go to the Blessing, Priestly (topic) playlist

Filter by Categories

Why Did Jesus Say 'Peace to You'?

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

In the vast flood of human words, where mankind generates billions daily, God's revelation stands in stark contrast with its precision and sparsity, each word chosen with absolute care. Among these sacred words, the priestly blessing emerges as a profound echo of divine intent, particularly when Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, appeared to His disciples and spoke, "Peace be with you" and "Peace to you." This repetition underscores a deep significance, reflecting the deliberate nature of God's communication. This pronouncement of peace by Christ carries the weight of the ancient priestly blessing found in Numbers 6, where God instructed that His name be placed upon His people through a blessing of peace, encompassing His keeping, grace, and favor. When Christ, as the divine High Priest, spoke peace to His disciples, He resumed a conversation from Passover, assuring them of His continued presence despite physical separation. His words promised not only peace but also the accompanying gifts of divine protection and grace inherent in the priestly blessing. Further resonance of this blessing appears in the story of Gideon in Judges 6, where the divine Messenger spoke peace to Gideon amidst fear and external conflict, paralleling Christ's reassurance to His disciples. This peace, declared by God, stands as an attribute of His nature, embodying wholeness and well-being, contrasting sharply with human tendencies toward conflict and agitation. Thus, when Christ spoke peace, it was not a mere greeting but a powerful declaration rooted in His divine essence, offering a profound sense of completeness and spiritual safety to His followers.

An Abundant Spiritual Offering

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The number eight signifies a new start with abundance abundance following a period of time (a week, seven years, or a millennium) of preparatory activity.

The Peacemakers

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The priestly blessing reveals that true peace can only be achieved through our Mediator and High Priest, Jesus Christ. His comprehensive work as the Great Peacemaker and Reconciler accomplished what no other could, reconciling all things to the Father through His sacrificial death. By His blood shed on the cross, He made peace, transforming us radically from our former state to a new being, holy and profoundly different. This reconciliation produces peace with God and should foster peace among humanity, marking us as children of God when we embody this divine trait of peacemaking. As part of His body, we must adopt His character to maintain harmony and peace with Him and with each other, reflecting the unity that comes from our shared connection to Him.

The Eighth Day (2019)

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The Eight Day (or Last Great Day) has little written about it, but the patterns of Scripture reveal much about the abundance of this holy day.