Saturday
To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 1:4-6, NIV)
For First Century church leaders, the words “grace” and “peace” are often used as a brief summary of the heart of the gospel message. It became a standard practice in the early church to greet other Christians with these words and to bid them farewell in the same way. The words are not a casual greeting, as many of our present-day greetings are, but are powerful reminders of the essence of the Christian faith. Today’s verses from the Apostle John’s greetings “to the seven churches in the province of Asia” is one of the more elaborate, expansive versions of a written “hello” to believers in a foreign land.
Every letter by the Apostle Paul begins with a greeting that includes the words “grace” and “peace.” Paul’s standard greeting is: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7). Most of Paul’s letters end in similar fashion, usually with a benediction about God’s peace. In the Letter to the Romans, for example, he writes: “The God of peace be with you all. Amen.” (15:33)
The Apostle Peter follows the same pattern in his two letters, greeting his readers as follows: “Grace and peace be yours in abundance” (II Peter 1:2a). Like Paul, Peter signs off on his first letter by saying “Peace to all of you who are in Christ” (I Peter 5:14). Jude, the brother of James, uses a slightly different greeting: “Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance” (v. 2). For the disciples empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the “good news” of God’s grace and peace – their summary of Jesus’ message – is always on their lips.
Prayer
God of grace and peace, we thank you for your love for us and for how that love is so evident in the lives of the First Century church leaders who walked with Jesus. Give us the same zeal to share your grace and peace with others. Amen.