Easter Sunday: The Peace that Jesus gives

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."  Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."  Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. - John 20:19‭-‬31 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

It is a present and future peace

This first Easter Sunday was behind locked doors. Why? Those who had crucified Jesus were looking for his accomplices. The Pharisees were hunting the disciples. Jesus appears along them, shows then His wounds, and then wishes them peace. This was a normal greeting, but in this context, it took on a new meaning. Shalom meant wholeness. Restoration of broken relationships, the broken world. Jesus' return meant that Shalom was coming back. He is bringing back that perfect world. Not only for the future, but knowing Jesus gives us present peace. After Jesus met the disciples, they went out. Did the world change? No, in many ways the world was even more dangerous for Jesus' followers. What changed them from cowering in a locked house to boldly going out? Death changed from an end to a new beginning. Jesus showed that things did not end at death. Not only that, but Jesus promises to be with them to the very end. We don't know what the future holds for us, to but our eternity is secure and Jesus will be with us for now and always.

It is a peace that is pursued

Thomas was not there when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. He wasn't there. He express his doubts, and Jesus comes again to find Thomas. Jesus invites Thomas to put touch the wounds. We demean Thomas with a nickname, Doubting Thomas. But Jesus does not scoff or mock. Jesus invites him to examine the evidence. Faith is not in opposition to reason, but we need more than just reason to have faith. We can come to faith by examining the evidence. The biblical accounts have historical reliability. We invite you to consider the evidence. 

Not only would we look over the evidence for faith, but consider that Jesus seeks us out. Thomas expresses doubts to the other disciples, but Jesus heard. Jesus came to Thomas and confronted those fears. So it is with us, Jesus is seeking us as we seek to examine the evidence.

It is a peace to be shared.

During times like this, do we not need the peace of Christ? The fear of death and loss has an answer. Jesus offers peace and a treasure that cannot be taken or lost. This peace is not for us alone, but we are to share it with the world during this difficult time.