Peace be with you!

The men were disheveled and huddled in fear. In the place they stood, all the doors were locked. These were the friends and followers of Jesus, His disciples, men who had heard Jesus’ words, seen His miracles. Not only were they mourning His loss, but they were also lost in hopelessness and despair, probably feeling ashamed and guilty they did not stand by the One they called Lord. They had slipped into the shadows that fateful night; Peter had denied Him not once, but three times, and now they huddled in anxious expectation that soldiers would burst in and drag them to their deaths as well.

And in the midst of that locked room full of fear and anxiety, a figure came and stood amongst them. This One who was the embodiment of perfect innocence, who was tortured, crucified and only a few days before, dead, Jesus was standing with them. “Peace be with you!” He says, no rebuke, no disappointment, no recriminations, but peace.

After seeing the wounds of their Lord’s hands and side, they were overjoyed and, in their relief, Jesus said again, “Peace be with you!” Twice that night Jesus gave His peace, and a week later Jesus said it again to Thomas who was not there in the locked room, nor convinced of what the others had told him.

After such an explosive authentication of who He was, Jesus seemed to emphasize peace, three times in their first encounters after His resurrection. Why? This is what we will explore this Advent Sunday of Peace because it seemed quite deliberate, and the effect it had on this fearful group was transformative. Might it be transformative for us as well even now?

Take a moment to read our passage for this week, John 20:19-31, it might not be a typical ‘Christmas’ text, but it is full of peace.

Many blessings

Josh