Peace Be With You

Thursday, May 25

Peace Be With You   

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19

It was after the crucifixion of Jesus. The disciples were in the upper room. The doors were locked for fear of the Jewish authorities. No doubt they were anxiously discussing what to do next. Their Master had gone, and they were left on their own. They may even have been showing signs of panic. Suddenly ‘Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you”’. While we may not be able to identify with the joy of walking with Jesus in the flesh, we can gain encouragement from this story and receive God’s peace.

When Jesus says, “Peace be with you”, He is speaking on His authority, not only to our minds or emotions, but directly into our spirit. He is speaking not just by His voice, but with His whole presence. ‘For He himself is our peace … and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility’ (Ephesians 2:14). There’s the difference. Jesus is our peace.

If we can turn our eyes away from issues that confront us, and look to Jesus, who has all power, our faith can rise above the circumstances and rest upon Him. He then passes on to us His mantle of peace, which we can wear with confidence and assurance. It’s not by having control over the circumstances that makes the difference, but by having peace in the circumstances, His peace, which is way beyond all our understanding.

Here the words of the Lord:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).