Nails tore through His flesh, anchoring Him to death. Religion feeling justified, "How dare you break our 613 rules and throw them back in our face as if they were a mockery." Can you hear the whisper of religion down through the ages? The cry for 613 rules to legislate morality.
Lashes hurled. Whipping. Flogging. Gouging. "Crucify Him. Crucify Him." His response, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."
Cultural society felt justified. "How dare you come on the scene eating with prostitutes, tax collectors, Samaritans?" Can you hear the fear bated accusations of culture echoing in the land? "How dare you break bread with gays, Muslims?"
As he hung, the nails tore deeper into His flesh."Crucify Him. Crucify Him." With a ratty last, fluid filled half breath, the Christ proclaims, "It is finished."
And from the darkest evil came the greatest victory. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. And He does...
Appearing to eight of His disciples, after the pain. After the evil. Fresh from the grave, he greets them, "Peace be with you."
Peace. The blessed state of fearing nothing from God and being content with your earthly lot, whatever that is.
Peace. The exemption from the rage and havoc of war.
Peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord.
Peace. Security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous).
Peace, the blessed state after death. The thing you thought killed you has ushered you in to your greatest resurrection and led you to peace.
Father, forgive them.... It is finished....
Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. What was that joy? To transcend time and space, appearing through a locked door to 8 (the number of new beginning) and extend to humanity, peace.
"Peace be with you." And for centuries now, peace beckons and calls to each one of, "And also with you."
