Peace Be With You!

“PEACE BE WITH YOU!” (Outline)

April 19, 2020 - Easter 2 - JOHN 20:19-31

INTRO.: Everyone likes gifts. We seldom deserve to be given a gift. The giver gives gift freely. Our loving, heavenly Father is the only One who gives us good and perfect gifts. The Lord God of Armies is the only Giver who knows exactly what we need. And freely gives us exactly what we need. Consider the disciples. Shortly before his crucifixion Jesus gave them the perfect gift that they desperately needed. Even though they did not realize it at the time. “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, and do not let it be afraid” (JOHN 14:27). God strengthens us with that same perfectly needed gift. “PEACE BE WITH YOU!” I. Believe what Jesus tells you. II. Rejoice when Jesus shows you.

I. BELIEVE WHAT JESUS TELLS YOU

A. Verse 19. It was still the day of Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples gathered behind locked doors.

1. They gathered together in fear. They saw what the Jews did to Jesus. Crucified him.

2. Even though the doors were locked Jesus came to be with them. “Peace be with you!”

3. Verse 21. Again, Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you!” They needed to hear this word.

B. Verse 22. Jesus breathed on them. Gave gift of the Holy Spirit. Breath and spirit same word.

1. Verse 23. Gift of Holy Spirit was the faith to better understand the Lord’s peace.

2. Jesus was sending them to proclaim message of peace = forgiveness of sins.

C. Verse 24. Thomas was not there. Did not hear Jesus’ word of peace. Did not see him.

1. Verse 25a. The disciples persisted. The “disciples kept telling him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’”

2. Thomas was simply not ready or willing to listen to the truth. No comfort or peace.

D. Jesus repeated the much needed words: “Peace be with you!” It was imperative for the disciples to listen. We also still need to listen to the Lord’s promises for us every day. We dare not underestimate the importance of hearing God’s Word. Scripture clearly explains. "For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who believed our message?’ So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ” (ROMANS 10:16b, 17). Like the disciples we need to hear God’s Word over and over. Again and again. It takes time for the depth of the meaning of the Lord’s love for us to soak in.

E. The power of God’s word is proclaimed in the simplest messages. “Peace be with you!” “He is risen! He is not here.” “Faith comes from hearing…” “The blood of Jesus purifies us from sin.” God’s living and active and powerful word strengthens us. We are comforted by God’s word of peace. To-day’s society does not have peace. Some are very fearful about the future. About the economy. About their health. We might even worry a bit too much about what is happening in our day to day lives. Why such a general feeling of unease? Is anyone listening? Is it anyone paying attention to the Lord? The Lord warned his people in the Old Testament. That warning applies to us today. "Look, the days are coming, declares the LORD God, when I will send a famine into the land— not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water, but rather a famine of hearing the words of the LORD" (AMOS 8:11).

F. The Lord Jesus gave the disciples his peace the world did not provide. Then Jesus said: “I am also sending you.” They were to take that message of peace into the world. It is the same message of peace the lives in our hearts. Comforts our souls. It is the very same message of peace we can share with others. “Peace be with you!” There is only place to find peace. Only one way to have peace. Peace is found alone in Christ. His life. Death. Resurrection. "He was crushed for the guilt our sins deserved. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (ISAIAH 53:5). Jesus was punished for our guilt. Our sins are freely forgiven. We are at peace with God.

“PEACE BE WITH YOU!” Our ears are open to hear. Hearts ready to believe what Jesus tells us.

II. REJOICE WHEN JESUS SHOWS YOU

A. Disciples lived in fear on the first resurrection Sunday. Women had reported Jesus’ resurrection.

1. Verse 25b. Thomas declared: “Unless I see…I will never believe.” Quite a promise to make.

2. This was after the disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” As did the women.