2026 Easter Devotions
Friday, April 10
John 20:19-25
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
“… “Peace be with you.” …”
Twice in this passage Jesus uses these same words. Upon initial observation, one would simply say that Jesus was greeting his disciples with the traditional salutation: “Shalom” – which means Peace be with you. However, the fact that Jesus uses those same words a second time speaks to another meeting. Jesus is bestowing his peace upon them.
Remember back in Chapter 14 where Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” It is the same message here, especially as the disciples are both troubled (by his crucifixion) and afraid (the doors were locked for fear of the Jews). In other words, Jesus is reminding them to rely on him and the peace he gives.
Of course, that’s easy to say but more difficult to do. After all, the world is very scary place – especially these days. Add that to the various troubles and trials that each of faces on a daily basis, and peace is likely the farthest thing from our mind. Nonetheless, Jesus’ presence brings peace to us just as it did to the disciples in the upper room.
When your hearts are troubled and fear creeps into your life, hear again Jesus’ words – and trust those words – “Peace be with you.” Peace is possible because Jesus is with you.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you bestow Your peace upon us. When I am troubled and afraid, remind me of Your words, Your presence, and Your peace that I may be made whole. Amen.