After the resurrected Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and commissions her to go tell his brothers of his impending ascension, he appears to his disciples, behind closed doors (John 20:19). He shows his disciples his hands and his pierced side, which dispelled their fears and brought gladness to them (John 20:20). Careful scrutiny of this pericope reveals that the display of his resurrected body is sandwiched between two expressions of “Peace” (John 20:19,21).
The first word from the resurrected Lord Jesus to His disciples is “Shalom” when he said, “Peace be unto you”. In addition to its literal context of dispelling the fear of the disciples (John 20:19), from other portions of Scripture, we can surface the hidden truth that Jesus is the sole means of “True” Peace – a state of Shalom – as the world was pre-fall in its unbroken state, in the Garden of Eden when and where all was good (Genesis 1, Genesis 2). After He shows the disciples His hands and his side, Jesus again tells his disciples, “Peace be unto you” and commissions them to be his apostles, for he says unto them “as my Father had sent me, even so I send you.”
Pre-birth of the Savior Jesus, the prophets of God prophesied of the Christ, the Prince of Peace who is to come (Isaiah 9:6). At his birth, the angelic choir sang, “Peace on earth” (Luke 2:13-14). During His earthly pilgrimage, Jesus declared, that He will leave with and give to His disciples – peace (John 14:27). After his resurrection, his first word is peace (Shalom) as he commissions them (John 20:19-21) to be the ambassadors of his redemptive and reconciling peace (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) – a peace that only he can give, unlike what the world gives – a peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
The message of Easter is “Peace”; peace on earth made possible because of the acceptable death and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10-14) which appeased the wrath of a just and Holy God (Romans 3:21-26), against all unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). The mission from Easter is to go into the world as commissioned by the resurrected Lord (John 20:21); to tell others that the chastisement of our peace was upon Jesus Christ, who was pierced on his side for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5-8), and proclaim that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and only in him can anyone find true peace which is to be reconciled with God i.e., peace with the One and Only just, Holy God of peace (Hebrews 13:20).
Points to ponder:
Is there anything that is robbing you of peace today? What are you afraid of? What are you anxious about? What are you ashamed of? Turn to Jesus and believe in him, who comes with the greeting “Shalom (peace) be unto you.” When Jesus is in your midst, as he was with his disciples (John 20:19), fear is turned to gladness. Anxiety and worries wane for whoever comes to Jesus, despite their weariness and heavy laden life will find rest (peace amidst the storms of life) (Matthew 11:28-29). And if you have the peace of God because you have believed in Jesus, as I have, are we heeding the words of our resurrected Lord Jesus who has sent us to proclaim this gospel of peace – peace on earth and goodwill unto all mankind, to the glory of God the Father, the God of peace in heaven above?
John 20:19-21 (KJV)
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
