Sabbath Devotional :: Easter Musings on the Sixth Principle of Peacemaking

MWEG’s Sixth Principle of Peacemaking:

We believe that, through Christ who overcame all, we can have the hope of peace in this life, regardless of our circumstances, and the promise of everlasting peace when Christ comes again to reign forever as the Prince of Peace.

In John 16:33, the Gospel writer starkly juxtaposes the realities of mortal life: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The scripture sets up a drastic contrast. “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” This is a given. We see it in every headline. We live on a planet where there are always “wars and rumors of wars.” Much of this tribulation is human made — out of pride or greed or lust for power.

We as MWEG women will always have plenty to do in the cause for ethical government. Some tribulation comes from less malignant sources but is just as discouraging and exhausting. These could be health problems, family dysfunction, poverty, grief, financial insecurity and many other burdens of human existence. The scripture asserts that tribulation isn’t going anywhere as long as the world exists.

And just when we start to grimly grapple with that inevitability, the verse flips the mood entirely with the utterly unexpected call for us to “be of good cheer”!

The events of the first Easter Sunday are both the facts and the symbol of the scripture’s last line. Christ declares, “I have overcome the world!”

It is not that Christ has resolved or will resolve every earthly conflict. It is that He has overcome the entire paradigm of conflict itself. He calls each of us to come to Him as our Lord and find lasting peace which tribulation cannot affect. Yes, scriptures tell us that He will eventually come to reign as Prince of Peace, but this invitation to come to Him promises that the discipline of peace can be ours now. The Easter Message of “He is Risen!” merges triumphantly with the hope and promise of His mortal birth — of peace on earth, goodwill toward all.

. . . Not that it will feel like sunshine and bunnies from now on out. We will still wrestle with difficulties that surround us. But, like the rising notes and mighty crescendo of James Cleveland’s hymn “Master, the Tempest is Raging”, Christ — The Way that is “in” but not “of” this world — will always buoy us:

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea

Or demons or men or whatever it be

No water can swallow the ship where lies

The Master of ocean and earth and skies!

Like the frightened sons of Judah in the Old Testament, we may cry to God, “We have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” (2 Chronicles 12:20). With our eyes constantly on our Savior and our lives guided by His will, we come to live the promises of Easter in this present moment and beyond: (She) who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive . . . peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come. (see D&C 59:23)

On this holy Easter Sunday day let us:

Raise [our] joys and triumphs high!

Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply!

Alleluia!