Peace Be With You

Jesus rose from the dead, so what’s next? Recall that the disciples, apostles, and family members were all caught off guard with Jesus resurrection. He said He would rise again from the dead after three days, and He did! So what are you to do now? What is next? Scripture talks about Jesus meeting with the disciples. Let’s listen to His message.

19 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!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Jesus drops in on his disciples. They are in a room with the doors locked because they are scared. I’m sure it was startling to have Jesus enter a room that is locked. Jesus, the man who can walk on water, calm the storms, ... he can also pass through walls or doors in his glorified state. He begins by telling them "Peace be with you!" I’m sure these were calming words to his disciples because they had locked the doors because they were afraid of persecution. For reassurance of peace, Jesus then shows them his hands and side. I’m sure you too, if you had been in that room would have wanted to see his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed. They are simply amazed. They have been waiting for further instruction as to what are they to do next.

Scripture states:

21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

They have been waiting for instructions and Jesus now instructs them. His message is simple, "Peace be with you!" He has said it for the second time. Jesus confirms that He was sent by the Father and now Jesus is sending his disciples. The Prince of Peace who greets with the message "Peace be with you" is now sending you out. He then breathes on his disciples and says "Receive the Holy Spirit". He commissions them to go out into the world and forgive the sins of the repentant sinners. But to those sinners that are not repentant, he has given the power to retain those sins. Are you committing sins against God that you are NOT willing to correct? Are you committing a sin against God which you are not sorry? Jesus calls you to repentance! True repentance is being truly sorry for what you have done and you want to stop doing it! In today’s world, many couples are living together and they are NOT willing to correct this sin against God. There are those living sexually immoral lifestyles and they are NOT willing to change. "Oh Lord, I know it is wrong, but you are just going to have to accept it, I’m not changing! Well, your eternal life is at stake! Jesus wants sinners to repent of their sins! Jesus brings peace by bringing the forgiveness of sins. Those who do not repent, retain those sins into eternity.

These instructions are not only to the disciples, but to you today! Disciples are followers and you are followers of Jesus Christ. You are to take the Peace of the Lord out into the world and to give them peace through the forgiveness of sins. You have received the Holy Spirit through you Baptism and through God’s Word. This is the very heart of the great commission: Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Christ’s whole life is about forgiveness of sins. It is the very reason He came and was born in a manger, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross! He did this for you for the forgiveness of sins. What was John the Baptist’s message as he prepared the way for Jesus? "Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins!" Jesus brings forgiveness! The Church brings forgiveness! I bring forgiveness! AND YOU BRING FORGIVENESS TO OTHERS! You have heard it from Christ!

Last week, the sermon focused on doubt that was overcome by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are those who still doubt! Thomas is a fine example of such a doubter. Scripture continues:

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"

But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

Many of you can relate! Are you from Missouri, the "Show Me State?" You may not be from Missouri, but you too may relate to Thomas. The problem is that Thomas has refused to believe his fellow brothers in Christ. His doubt is much deeper in that it does not involve doubt, but unbelief! He refuses the testimony of the other disciples. Well, many today refuse to believe the testimony of the Holy Bible. This is not doubt, but unbelief! .... It is comforting to know that we have a God of grace! Jesus, is in the business of forgiveness. He comes to Thomas personally to erase his doubt and unbelief. Scripture states:

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

A week later, a week of doubt and unbelief, a week of rejecting the testimony of his friends, Jesus passed through locked doors again for Thomas’s sake. The Prince of Peace greets him with "Peace be with you!" True peace comes from Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins he bore on the cross. This peace grants eternal life! Jesus doesn’t waste time, He gets right to the point. He said to Thomas: "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." He invites Thomas to put his finger into the nail holes in his hands and the cut on His side from the sword. This is the where Jesus was stabbed by the soldier to confirm his death in which water and blood poured out. The very blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins! Jesus tells Thomas to stop doubting and BELIEVE!!!

What happens next is one of the great confessions in the Bible. Scripture states:

28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Thomas confesses before Christ and the others in the room, My Lord and my God! Part of our faith is the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. We confess this publicly in the words of the Nicene and Apostles Creed. In a few minutes when you confess the Apostle’s Creed, pay attention to the words. You are confessing like Thomas "My Lord and my God! "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. An in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord!" What separates you from Thomas is that Thomas had to see to believe. You have not seen Jesus Christ, yet you BELIEVE!

Scripture concludes with these words:

30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Verse 31 states that these words were written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. For those struggling with doubt, we trust in God’s written Word and Thomas’s seeing eyes. Doubting Thomas saw the nail holes so that you can believe. You today are blessed! Remember that Jesus told Thomas: "Because you have seen me, you have believed", but here is your blessing because he is talking specifically to you when he says "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Let us rejoice in the faith that comes to us through God’s Word. Peace be with you! This peace comes to you bringing the eternal life.

Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, so what’s next? Share the Peace of our Risen Lord this Easter season and share in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. AMEN