And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”


Luke 24:46-48


When the world turned its back on God, when we had turned our back on God, he didn’t abandon us, he didn’t give up on the relationship. Instead, he sent his Son to re-establish a relationship with a broken world.


Jesus does not show anger or disappointment with the apostles. Instead, he extends peace to them. The olive branch is used to mark a new beginning, even a new era. In the Book of Genesis, a dove brings back an olive branch to the ark after the flood, and in ancient Greece and Rome olive branches were used at weddings and as a symbol to end conflicts.


Jesus is not only making peace with the apostles by appearing to them. He makes peace by giving them a job to do. He tells them that they are going to be the ones that preach about the forgiveness of sins. He says, “Not only are we good in our relationship, but I am trusting you to bring my message to all people, starting right here in Jerusalem”.


Don’t forget that you are God’s peaceful ambassador. Pray for the strength to extend the olive branch and be love in action.