”On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
Disturbed and distraught because of Jesus’ death and burial, His disciples had withdrawn behind closed doors. Suddenly, Jesus stood among them. The disciples could hardly believe their eyes. Jesus greeted them with the customary Jewish ‘shalom’ greeting: ‘Peace be with you’. It is still a customary greeting in Israel. When Jesus uses it here, it takes on a deeper meaning. With this greeting, Jesus expresses more than just a wish. The word ‘shalom’ means peace. Not only peace in the sense of absence of war or mutual strife, ‘shalom’ is also inner peace and wholeness that God gives through His presence in our life. Wholeness in the sense of freedom from unrest and doubt. A peace that we as human beings also want for each other and pray for. But only God can give that peace. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, that peace is possible for everyone who believes in Him. Our hearts can often be full of unrest, uncertainty and doubt. Jesus comes to meet us with His peace. And filled with that peace, we receive the strength to be a blessing to others. Shalom!
Read Jesus’ blessing for you and make it visible on your phone or your fridge, for example, so that you see these words every day:
‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid’ (John 14:27).