They are scared out of their minds! Their world had fallen to pieces. Their future was uncertain and their lives were on the line. They had heard from Mary Magdalene that he was, in fact still alive, but that was something that at this stage they were, to say the least, unsure about.
To emphasise and prove it really was him, he “showed them his hands and his side” hands they had seen nailed to a Cross and a side that had been stabbed by a Roman spear. No way in the natural could this man be alive. But he is! More than that he is blessing them with one of the greatest ‘blessings’ we can have; PEACE. “Peace be unto you”. A man who has been unjustly judged, mocked beyond reason, and brutally killed is now standing before them saying “Peace be to you”.
It seems that with the trauma of the past few days, they had forgotten what Jesus had said to them not long before; “Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you”.
Because Jesus is alive today we can know his peace today. Even in a world that is full of ‘wars and rumours of wars’ we can know his peace. It is the one thing he has most certainly promised us; “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid” – John 14 v27. Whatever your need, your circumstances, or your fears, just thank Him for His great gift of peace. A gift that through our lives we can pass on to others.
Praise Him! “Whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” – 1 Peter 1 v8.
Blessings of peace and fullness of joy in Him.
Eddie.