Jn. 20:19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jn. 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Jn.16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
In John chapter 20 we find the disciples hidden away in a locked room in fear, and most likely also shame and guilt. Remember that John was the only one of the remaining 11 that stood at the cross. I’m certain that the other disciples were riddled with shame and guilt, besides the fear they were experiencing. I love how Jesus walks through the walls of fear and guilt that we find ourselves trapped in from time to time, and speaks supernatural peace into our lives and breathes on us once again the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not given to become some kind of supernatural sedative in our lives, but He does come to bring peace to our hearts and minds in the midst of astounding warfare, and the conflict we have to steward in a fallen world caught up in this cosmic conflict. Again, notice it was Jesus who released peace to them, and it was the Holy Spirit who made the peace of Jesus transformingly real in them. Peace isn’t something we get; it is someone who is at peace, made vital in us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it was His peace He was leaving us; and the Philippians passage says that the peace that passes all understanding is the peace of God. It’s not a peace that God gives; it is the very peace that He experiences that’s made real in us by the Holy Spirit. That’s why Philippians says it’s a peace that passes all understanding. It transcends all psychology, and all circumstances. It is a miraculous. Christianity is much more than precepts to be learned; it is a person to be enjoyed and celebrated. It’s not something that’s committed to memory; instead it’s a real relationship worked out in intimacy, and faith. 2 Thess. 3:16 ”Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”
The peace of the Lord be with you.