#DailyDevotion Peace And Gladness Offered Here

Thursday Easter 2

John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,  “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

 

So this was the evening of Easter day. The women have already reported having seen Jesus risen from the dead. Peter and John had gone to the tomb and seen that it was empty just as Mary said. Jesus had already appeared to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. The disciples were still behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. They did not understand.

 

Now Jesus appears to them in the locked house. Now Jesus could have chided them for their lack of faith or understanding. He could have chided them for abandoning him on Thursday night.  He could have got on to them for not believing the testimony of the women or the two disciples he had broke bread. But Jesus doesn’t.  Instead he says, “Peace to you.”

 

Now the Jews often say Shalom, Peace to you, in their daily greetings just as much as we wish each other a good day. But no truer words were ever spoken by the mouth of men than when Jesus greeted his disciples with peace. Fear and trembling were what they had been feeling. Now the peace which is beyond understanding is given to them. The peace Jesus gives is not cessation of all troubles. The disciples would still have troubles. It is the peace that despite all that may be going wrong, you can know everything is going to be ok. It is all in the hands of a merciful God, who loves and forgives you. Who becomes one of us and takes all that is wrong in the world and in our lives upon himself and sanctifies it. Who promises a better world to come for all eternity and dwelling with him. This is the peace Jesus offers to us as well.

 

Show Jesus showed them his hands and side and they were glad when they saw the Lord. There have been plenty of people in the past and there are numbers of people today who claim to be Jesus. But they have no holes where Jesus has his holes from his crucifixion. No holes in his hands and side, no Jesus. It is written, “They will look upon him whom they have pierced.” We will know it is Jesus not only with when we see him coming down from the clouds as he left us, but we, like the disciples will see the wounds in his hands and his side and know it is him. On that day we will be glad like the disciples.

 

But even now, we can be glad and have the peace Jesus has spoken to the apostles. We have their word Jesus is risen from the dead. Our sin has been atoned for and a propitiation for them has been provided for Jesus. The Father no longer holds our trespasses against us. We have the promise that even as Jesus has been raised from the dead immortal, we too shall overcome death on the day of his return.

Gracious Father, grant unto us who trust in your Son Jesus Christ his peace in our hearts despite our circumstances so that we may face the world with gladness knowing we shall see him on the day of resurrection with bodies like his own. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.