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Peace Be With You

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
John 20:19

Let's get a feel for the situation. The disciples were crowded into the upper room. They had heard word just that morning that Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb. The women had come to tell them that he had risen. But they didn't believe. They had their doubts. John and Peter went and checked it out. Peter saw, but he couldn't put it all together. John saw and believed.

Can you imagine the conversation that took place during that day? They were too afraid of the Jews and the Romans to go out and see, or look for Jesus, so they sat in a locked room sulking, praying, arguing, discussing, pondering, recalling the words of Jesus. I can imagine that John was leading the conversation and Peter boldly trying to make sense of it. The women, especially Mary, were trying to convince the rest of their conviction that Jesus had risen.

So here they all were talking, praying, arguing, and then in a blink of an eye, in an instant, in a flash of a second, there stands Jesus in the middle of them, and says "Peace be with you."

This peace that Jesus offered to His followers that first Easter is the same peace that He is offering to you today. Jesus rose from the dead victorious over sin, death and the evil one. He has called you by name to be His sons and daughters. Today, look at the empty cross, the empty tomb and know that Jesus is standing right beside you and saying, "Peace be with you." His peace that will comfort, heal, and strengthen you during whatever you are, or will, face in the future.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Today as I look upon the empty cross and tomb I know that my Redeemer Lives! I thank You that You sent your Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for my sins. I praise You that because of Jesus' resurrection from the dead that I can have peace, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding. Empower me by your Holy Spirit to believe and trust in You as I share this peace with others. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen