How can believers find peace in Jesus' presence as shown in John 20:20? Setting the Scene • The disciples have locked themselves away in fear (John 20:19). • Jesus appears and says, “Peace be with you.” • Immediately afterward, “He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20). • This literal, historical moment turns their terror into overflowing joy. What the Disciples Saw and Felt • Visible proof: His hands and side confirm the crucifixion is not the end but the victory. • Physical presence: Jesus is not a vision; He stands among them. • Result: Fear dissolves; joy and peace flood their hearts. Peace Through His Presence • Peace is a Person: Jesus Himself embodies the peace He speaks (John 14:27). • Assurance of victory: The scars declare sin and death defeated (Hebrews 2:14-15). • Fulfillment of promises: He had said He would rise (John 2:19-22); seeing Him validates every word. • Relationship restored: Separation caused by sin is closed; Emmanuel—“God with us”—is tangibly with them (Matthew 1:23). Practical Steps to Experience His Peace Today 1. Look to His scars in Scripture – Meditate on passages that describe His sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). – Remember they guarantee your forgiveness and future. 2. Invite His presence consciously – Spend unhurried time in the Word where He reveals Himself (John 5:39). – Acknowledge Him in every circumstance (Proverbs 3:5-6). 3. Replace fear with His words – Speak His promises aloud—“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). – Cast anxieties on Him through thankful prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). 4. Rejoice actively – Joy is the natural response to recognizing Christ is near (Psalm 16:11). – Sing, testify, and serve others as tangible expressions of that joy. Scriptures that Echo this Peace • John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you…” • Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast mind, because he trusts in You.” • Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” • Colossians 1:20 – “and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things… making peace through the blood of His cross.” Living Out This Truth • Whenever fear surfaces, picture the risen Jesus standing beside you, scars visible, speaking, “Peace be with you.” • Let His proven victory shift your focus from threats to His unshakable rule. • Walk each day confident that the same presence that calmed a locked-room panic now indwells every believer (Galatians 2:20). |
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