John 20:19–23
“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” – John 20:21
Click to read passage
In Church, we greet one another with “Shalom!” or “”Peace be with you!””
“”Peace”” may seem like a simple greeting. Yet it carries a very important message in the Christian faith. It was the first word the risen Christ spoke to His disciples. Notice that in today’s passage, the Lord Jesus says “”Peace be with you”” twice. How are these two greetings different?
The first time, the Lord gave peace when His disciples were afraid. When the Lord Jesus was arrested and crucified, the disciples scattered. They were all filled with fear. The passage tells us that on the evening of the first day of the week, they had heard the news that Jesus had risen. Yet they kept the doors locked because they were afraid. Then “”Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you'”” (verse 19).
The Lord’s first words were not a rebuke. He did not demand to know why they were hiding. He simply said to them, “”Peace.”” The Lord Jesus knew that what the disciples needed most at that moment was not a rebuke. They needed to know that God was still in control. They needed to know that He can give heavenly peace to His children.
I remember a time when my daughter was little. She went into the kitchen to get a bowl, and none of us noticed. Perhaps she was hungry and thought that getting a bowl meant she would get food. She ended up pulling several bowls out of the cupboard and onto the floor. As the bowls smashed one after another, her crying filled the whole house. I rushed into the kitchen. In that moment, I simply held her tight and told her, “”It’s all right. Mummy is here.”” That firm embrace and those gentle words drove her fear away completely. Slowly, she calmed down. If we had scolded her first, it wouldn’t have helped anything.
The disciples were panicking behind locked doors. They were afraid of the Jews, and they were worried that Jesus would blame them. At that very moment, the risen Christ came among them Himself and said, “”Peace be with you.”” He showed them His hands and His side. “”Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.””
This joy did not come because their circumstances had changed. It did not come because the persecution had gone away. It came because they saw that the Lord they believed in and followed was still alive. He was with them, and He gave them His peace. So the disciples’ hearts were filled with joy.
The second time, the Lord gives peace again as the disciples receive their mission. “”Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you'”” (verse 21).
The disciples received peace and joy in the presence of Jesus. But this was not the end of the story, where everyone lives happily ever after. It was the true beginning of following Him and imitating Christ. This is God’s unchanging purpose. The Lord Jesus said, “”As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.””
The disciples whom Jesus sent out were no longer only people who needed comfort. They were about to become people who would proclaim the gospel and bear witness to the risen Lord. This was not an easy mission. They would walk the same path as the Lord Jesus. They might face betrayal, rejection and other hardships and pressures. But the Lord Jesus promised that in Him there is peace. He breathed on them Himself, and the Holy Spirit would go with them.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is a reminder to us. Every one of us who follows the Lord Jesus and has received His peace is also sent by Him. We are sent out to bear witness to the risen Lord.
So whether we are at home, in the community or at work, we are to live lives of peace and joy. We are to boldly share the gospel of peace with those around us. We may worry that we are not able. We may not know how to begin, and we may be afraid of rejection. But the Lord Jesus does not ask us to do this in our own strength. He has promised to give us the Holy Spirit to be with us. So we can rely on Him and faithfully carry out what He has entrusted to us. May more people come to know the risen Christ through our lives.
Reflection:
1. Do I only want to receive peace from Jesus, yet remain unwilling to be sent by Him?
2. Who might the risen Lord be sending me to today, to share the peace He gives?
Prayer:
Risen Christ, thank You that in our moments of fear, sorrow and disappointment, You come among us Yourself and give us Your peace. Lord, please continue to strengthen me. In every moment of my life, help me remember the mission You have entrusted to me. Give me courage to tell others that You are the God who gives peace. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Click to read passage
In Church, we greet one another with “Shalom!” or “”Peace be with you!””
“”Peace”” may seem like a simple greeting. Yet it carries a very important message in the Christian faith. It was the first word the risen Christ spoke to His disciples. Notice that in today’s passage, the Lord Jesus says “”Peace be with you”” twice. How are these two greetings different?
The first time, the Lord gave peace when His disciples were afraid. When the Lord Jesus was arrested and crucified, the disciples scattered. They were all filled with fear. The passage tells us that on the evening of the first day of the week, they had heard the news that Jesus had risen. Yet they kept the doors locked because they were afraid. Then “”Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you'”” (verse 19).
The Lord’s first words were not a rebuke. He did not demand to know why they were hiding. He simply said to them, “”Peace.”” The Lord Jesus knew that what the disciples needed most at that moment was not a rebuke. They needed to know that God was still in control. They needed to know that He can give heavenly peace to His children.
I remember a time when my daughter was little. She went into the kitchen to get a bowl, and none of us noticed. Perhaps she was hungry and thought that getting a bowl meant she would get food. She ended up pulling several bowls out of the cupboard and onto the floor. As the bowls smashed one after another, her crying filled the whole house. I rushed into the kitchen. In that moment, I simply held her tight and told her, “”It’s all right. Mummy is here.”” That firm embrace and those gentle words drove her fear away completely. Slowly, she calmed down. If we had scolded her first, it wouldn’t have helped anything.
The disciples were panicking behind locked doors. They were afraid of the Jews, and they were worried that Jesus would blame them. At that very moment, the risen Christ came among them Himself and said, “”Peace be with you.”” He showed them His hands and His side. “”Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.””
This joy did not come because their circumstances had changed. It did not come because the persecution had gone away. It came because they saw that the Lord they believed in and followed was still alive. He was with them, and He gave them His peace. So the disciples’ hearts were filled with joy.
The second time, the Lord gives peace again as the disciples receive their mission. “”Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you'”” (verse 21).
The disciples received peace and joy in the presence of Jesus. But this was not the end of the story, where everyone lives happily ever after. It was the true beginning of following Him and imitating Christ. This is God’s unchanging purpose. The Lord Jesus said, “”As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.””
The disciples whom Jesus sent out were no longer only people who needed comfort. They were about to become people who would proclaim the gospel and bear witness to the risen Lord. This was not an easy mission. They would walk the same path as the Lord Jesus. They might face betrayal, rejection and other hardships and pressures. But the Lord Jesus promised that in Him there is peace. He breathed on them Himself, and the Holy Spirit would go with them.
Dear brothers and sisters, this is a reminder to us. Every one of us who follows the Lord Jesus and has received His peace is also sent by Him. We are sent out to bear witness to the risen Lord.
So whether we are at home, in the community or at work, we are to live lives of peace and joy. We are to boldly share the gospel of peace with those around us. We may worry that we are not able. We may not know how to begin, and we may be afraid of rejection. But the Lord Jesus does not ask us to do this in our own strength. He has promised to give us the Holy Spirit to be with us. So we can rely on Him and faithfully carry out what He has entrusted to us. May more people come to know the risen Christ through our lives.
Reflection:
1. Do I only want to receive peace from Jesus, yet remain unwilling to be sent by Him?
2. Who might the risen Lord be sending me to today, to share the peace He gives?
Prayer:
Risen Christ, thank You that in our moments of fear, sorrow and disappointment, You come among us Yourself and give us Your peace. Lord, please continue to strengthen me. In every moment of my life, help me remember the mission You have entrusted to me. Give me courage to tell others that You are the God who gives peace. In the precious name of the Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.