That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19
This world is chaotic. We face sickness, conflict, pain, and more every day. If we spend too much time thinking about it, we can become overwhelmed. This pain is not new for us. The moment sin entered the world, pain, heartache, conflict, and more entered, too. In the middle of this chaos and pain, Jesus entered and brought something that the entire world has been searching for: peace.
Perhaps this mission to bring peace is why Jesus greeted His disciples after His resurrection with the words, “Peace be with you” (John 20: 19). I imagine that this was a very tender moment because His disciples had just experienced the heartbreak of seeing Jesus die a brutal death. In the middle of everything, Jesus appeared, resurrected from the grave, proclaiming peace. When they saw Him, the disciples were, of course, “filled with joy” (verse 20). He said again, “peace be with you.” This repetition of the phrase makes it clear that it was very important, and Jesus wanted to clearly communicate that He brought peace. How? Through His resurrection. You see, the fact that Jesus was alive signified that He had conquered sin and death and that He makes it possible to have peace with God for anyone who believes in Him.
Peace is available for you, too. Jesus wants peace for you just like He wanted that for His disciples. If you have placed your faith in Him, you have access to that peace. This peace comes from knowing that we have life in Him. This is the truth that we have to lean on in the middle of hard, chaotic times that feel anything but peaceful. Because Jesus conquered sin and death, peace is available anytime, despite our circumstances. Will you hold on to His peace today?
Jesus’ offer of peace is for you, right now, today. One of the ways we can experience His peace is by centering our hearts and minds on Him. We can do this by worshiping. So take the next few minutes to listen to your favorite worship song. Sing it loudly and worship Jesus. As you do this, you will find His peace that extends beyond any circumstances.
John 20:19-23 (NLT)
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
©2024 Sagebrush Church
