What does Jesus' greeting "Peace be with you" signify for believers today? Setting the Scene John 20:19–21: “When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you!’ He said to them. After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said to them, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.’” The Words Themselves • “Peace be with you” was a common Hebrew greeting (shalom) yet, from the risen Christ, it carried divine authority. • His words landed in a room thick with anxiety, doubt, and guilt—locked doors could not keep Him out. • Because the risen Savior never speaks idle words, every syllable is loaded with present and lasting meaning. Peace as Present Reality • Jesus immediately grants what He announces. When He says “Peace,” He actually imparts it (cf. John 14:27). • The peace He gives is not the world’s fragile cease-fire but His own victory-secured calm (Colossians 3:15). • The moment He speaks, fear yields to joy (John 20:20). His peace is experiential, not merely theoretical. Peace as Reconciliation • By showing His wounds (v. 20), Jesus links peace to the completed atonement. • Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” • Believers today stand in the same reconciled position; no wrath remains, no accusation sticks (Colossians 1:20-22). Peace as Commission • Jesus repeats the greeting, then immediately adds, “As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” • The order matters: peace precedes mission. We minister from rest, not restlessness. • Isaiah 52:7 connects “good news” with “peace”; the messenger’s feet carry the very shalom Christ pronounces. Peace as Empowerment • Locked doors and hostile culture did not change; what changed was the disciples’ internal state. • Philippians 4:6-7 shows that God’s peace guards hearts and minds—an inner fortress stronger than outer threats. • Ephesians 2:14: “He Himself is our peace,” meaning we draw strength from His indwelling presence. Peace for Our Daily Walk Practical markers that Jesus’ greeting still works itself out in believers: • Confidence to approach God without dread (Hebrews 4:16). • Freedom from crippling anxiety; we cast cares on the One who governs all (1 Peter 5:7). • Patience and gentleness in relationships; His peace rules our interactions (James 3:18). • Stability in trials; we anchor in the character of the One who said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Living it Out • Start each day remembering that Christ has already spoken peace over you. • When fear surfaces, audibly reaffirm John 20:19—He is present in the room, not absent. • Let His peace set the tone for speech, decisions, and reactions. • Carry the greeting outward: be a peacemaker at home, work, church, and beyond (Matthew 5:9). Key Takeaways • Jesus’ greeting is a fulfilled promise, not a wish. • Peace means reconciliation with God, calm for the heart, and courage for the mission. • The same risen Lord still steps into locked-door moments to speak His unchanging “Peace be with you.” |
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