Jesus Gives Peace

John 20:19–23
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You may never have heard of a whelk, but this little ocean creature can ruin an oyster’s day. The whelk has an appendage that works like an augur, with which it can bore a small hole in the top of an oyster’s shell. Through this very small hole a whelk can devour an entire oyster … More

Peace

In this passage we read about the resurrection peace that is available to us in Jesus Christ (vv. 19-23). The timing of this event is about 12 hours after the first witness saw Jesus who had risen from the grave. The scene is a private home in Jerusalem. In His resurrection body, He was able to enter the room without opening the doors. The characters are the 12 disciples. The mood in the room is one of fear and turmoil. Here is what happened. First, Jesus showed them His hands and His side (v. 20). And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Then, Jesus said, “Peace be unto you” (vv. 19, 21). Having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit (vv. 22-23)! What does the word peace really mean? The word comes from the Hebrew and is pronounced “Shalom” or “may it be well with you now.” And I believe the words spoken by Jesus to His disciples that day still need to be heard today. Here is what it means:

We can be at peace with our past. Jesus Christ can speak a word of resurrection wholeness and peace into your past. There are a lot of people who simply can’t get on with life, because of something that happened a long time ago. It’s like driving down the road looking in the rear view mirror. If you keep looking in the rearview mirror, you can’t see what’s ahead of you and you will crash! That’s what happens to people who can’t get by their past; they crash.
We can be at peace with our present. Let me ask you this question; “What are you dealing with right now that causes you grief and turmoil?” Is it your marriage, your finances, your health, your children? We’re living in a very broken world. People’s lives are daily being torn apart and shredded. Christ is the answer as we seek the peace that only He can give.
We can be at peace with our future. You and I have a glorious hope offered to us in Jesus Christ. People are skeptical about the future, but there’s a hope and peace that surpasses and transcends everything bad that happens, and it’s found in the Lord.

Application

I am glad that I have been convinced of the reality of the risen Christ. I need to keep looking for new ways to explain the reason for my faith to nonbelievers.

John 20:19-23 (English Standard Version)

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." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."

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More John commentaries

Jesus Gives Peace

John 20:19–23» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

Application

John 20:19-23 (English Standard Version)

John 20:19–23
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)