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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, 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. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:19-21
Peace seems to be a pretty evasive thing for a lot of people these days. I know there are periods when it is for me. Sometimes life can pull me in a direction I really don’t care to go.
One of the reasons I like the solitude of the mountains or ocean is the peace I often find there. The clutter of technology goes away, and there is a harmony about my surroundings that can’t be measured or put on a scale and quantified.
For the followers of Jesus, there were terrifying events which took place just before the opening Scripture was written. Most of His followers had given up everything to follow Him, some of them for years. Then they’d seen Him tortured and crucified on a cruel cross, where He suffered for hours before dying a horrendous death. I’m sure their world and their guts were anything but at peace.
But then Sunday came and their world took another sharp turn, only this time it wasn’t for the worse, just a lot more confusing. The tomb where Jesus was buried was now empty and they didn’t know where He was. Imagine that for moment.
And then He appeared to them. And He was alive!
And PEACE…
Jesus.