THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A GREETING
By Lay Pastor Markus Budi Rahardjo
Lemah Putro, Sunday, January 27, 2019
Shalom,
A greeting frequently begins a meeting with someone or a group of people. This applies to either a new or long-time relationship. A greeting serves as a means of communication to show someone’s presence and attention or to underscore the relationship.
According to the Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language (GDIL), the word “greeting” means peace or an expression of respect. A greeting may have a nuance of local culture and may change its significance due to a social status and relationship as well.
A greeting can be extended in the form of:
A statement used to introduce oneself, to greet someone such as ”Hallo,” “Hi,” “How are you?” “Good morning / afternoon / evening,” or to express a wish, for example, “Welcome,” “Happy Birthday,” “Merry Christmas” and many more.
A gesture like a handshake, a nod, a kiss on the hand or cheek, a wave of the hand and so on.
In day-to-day activities at work, on campus, in the church or elswhere, we are often encouraged to practice smiling and greeting to respect each other.
In all his letters (from Romans to Philemon), the Apostle Paul always began and finished his writings with the word “greeting.” From this we can learn that we should start and finish off what we do. Doesn’t the church service begin with an opening prayer and ends up with a benediction? The Lord himself said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22: 13).
Let’s take a closer look at the Apostle Paul’s greeting in Ephesians 6: 21-24.
Who gave the Apostle Paul’s greeting to the Ephesians? Tychicus did (v.21).
The Apostle Paul trusted Tychicus, his felow minister, who was faithful in the preaching of the gospel. He sent Tychicus (= lucky and successful) to bring the complete and detailed message about him (Paul) to the Ephesians and Colossians alike (Colossians 4: 7-9). Tychicus was a Christian who lived in 1 AD.
The phrase “beloved brother” shows a close, brotherly or family relationship in the Lord. Children of God are bothers and sisters tied by the redeeming blood of Christ.
“Beloved brother” implies agape love – the love of Christ for His Church manifested by His sacrifice on the cross. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not
rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7).
Apart from being a “beloved brother,” Tychicus was also a faithful minister in the Lord. A minister, commonly called a priest, is one redeemed and chosen by Him. Called out of the darkness to His wonderful light and to be His own, a minister is to proclaim the great things He has done (1 Peter 2: 9).
According to the GDIL, the word “faithful” means firmly holding to a promise; being obedient; being stable and unchanged in friendship; firmly holding to an opinion or promise. For example, a servant who was faithful until the bitter end was Jesus Himself (Philemon 2: 8).
What kind of task did the Apostle Paul give to Tychicus? To comfort the Ephesian believers who were confronted with numerous hardships and struggles at the time (Ephesians 6: 22). In the same way, as congregants and members of the body of Christ, we are to care for each other. When one members suffers, all the members suffer with them; when one member gets honor, all the members rejoice with them (1 Corinthians 12: 26).
Every well-wisher in the congregation of God is to care for every church member who has been out of sight in church for quite some time. Possibly, they are sick. They could have been going through all kinds of problems or anything else. Bear in mind that sooner or later, we will be dealing with our own problems. Then we will need support from other members of the body of Christ. In 1 Tessalonians 4: 18, the Apostle Paul’s advice reads: “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Do not follow in the footsteps of Job’s wife. Instead of helping her husband in his difficult times, she asked him to curse God and wished for his death (Job 2: 9). Frankly, don’t we often act like a judge? We point the finger at our brothers and sisters at the point they are struggling or coping with their problems, rather than bringing them consolation.
Tychicus passed on the Apostle Paul’s greeting. What did his greeting have to say? Peace and love with faith from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6: 23).
Peace or shalom means no war, no riots, being safe and quiet. Everyone needs peace, but not everyone has it to thrill at.
How do we achieve peace? “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river. And your righteousness like the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48: 28). Jesus confirmed this, saying, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27)
Tychicus brought the greeting of peace from the Triune God that man needs badly. Also, he delivered grace that would be with those who love the Lord Jesus Christ with eternal love (Ephesians 6: 24).
Grace is God’s free gift. It has nothing to do with human efforts or works by any means. By His grace we were saved through faith (Ephesians 2: 8-9) and the salvation is real (Titus 2: 11). The grace,
mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ will be with us in truth and love (2 John 1: 3).
Now it is clear that in the fellowship of members of the body of Christ, we are to be faithful and loving ministers ready to sacrifice by caring and comforting the needy. On top of that, we are to convey the greeting of peace and God’s grace to anyone who loves Him. Amen.