PEACE BE WITH YOU

JOHN 20:19–20

“Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord

(John 20:19b, 20).

Here we have the dramatic entrance of Jesus into the hiding place of the disciples. The doors had been locked so the disciples could hide from any Jews who might want to put them on trial as they did Jesus. It was the first day of the week—a frequent emphasis in the New Testament as the chief day to celebrate and worship the resurrected Lord (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10). This is one reason why Christians celebrate the Lord’s Day on the first day of the week and not the last, as the Jews do.

Jesus’ appearance is a mystery. How did His resurrected body pass through the locked doors? We must not assume that Jesus was merely a spirit because He made the point that He is really flesh and blood by showing the disciples His hands and later inviting Thomas to touch Him. All we can conclude is that the resurrected body, while not a phantom, is different in composition from earthly bodies. We also must not mix Jesus’ human and divine natures, even after the resurrection, by saying that His human body is omnipresent.

What Jesus said to the disciples was significant: “Peace be with you.” Then He showed them His hands. The manner of Jesus’ greeting is significant in at least four ways. First, as we have already mentioned, He showed them His hands and His side to testify that He was not a ghost. Second, the person standing in the midst of the disciples was really Jesus. The wounds in His hands identified Him as such and put to rest any doubts. Third, it was not just Jesus’ spirit that was raised from the dead, but His body also. This gives us hope that we, too, will be raised in body, transformed just as Jesus was. And fourth, the peace He pronounced was actually given to them by Jesus. It was real and had been bought at the price of His own suffering and death.

Jesus is our peace because He stood in our place. He suffered on our behalf that we might have peace in our hearts, peace with God, and peace with one another. The enmity between God and us is removed. The wall of hostility among brothers has been broken down. And the sin that so easily disrupts our lives has been conquered. Jesus Christ is our peace, and for that we can be glad.

CORAM DEO

Ezekiel 32–33

1 Peter 1

Do you have peace in your life or are you anxious, at odds with others, resentful of God, distracted and agitated? Seriously examine whether you really know the peace given by Christ and the gladness of heart that comes from knowing Him. If not, ask Him to help you believe He is the source of true peace.

For further study: 1 Cor. 7:15 • Phil 4:7 • Col 1:20 • James 3:18

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