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“Peace Be With You”

Excerpted from Sifted: Diary of a Grieving Mother by Karen Harmening

AUGUST 6, 2020

“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.’” 

John 20:19

As I was reading through the book of John recently I was struck by the greeting of Jesus to the disciples after His resurrection, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21, 26). A common greeting at the time, some readers disregard His use of it as inconsequential. As I consider it against the backdrop of all that had just transpired, though, it becomes clear it is far more than a dismissible common greeting.

In the days between their last meal with Him and this encounter, He had been crucified, died, atoned for the sins of the world, was raised to life again, and defeated death. In that context, His greeting of “Peace be with you” is profound. It’s an open-handed offer of peace that powerfully prevails regardless of circumstances; a compassionate proclamation of the immediate availability of hope and restoration He stands freely offering through Himself.

Peace be with you: When your vision for your life is shattered

Not long before this encounter, the disciples were gathered closely around Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. They knew well the prophecies of Him ruling from the throne of David forever. Surely the restoration of the kingdom of Israel and His visible reigning over it was at hand. As anticipation built, they likely had very clear and hopeful expectations for their earthly future.

But then, in an instant, everything changed. Jesus was seized in the garden, they were scattered, and their expectations and visions for the future were shattered. Jesus had told them what was about to happen, but they didn’t understand. “They did not grasp what was said.”

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. (Luke 18:31-34 ESV)

I relate so deeply to this. Prior to Sarah’s death, I had been closely communing with Jesus, walking with Him daily. Though I embraced my eternal future, I confess my greatest desire was for the future I saw for my family’s little earthly kingdom. I could see and almost touch it: my family intact and thriving as they followed Him, my children marrying godly partners, and grandchildren just over the horizon. But then, in an instant, everything changed. Interlocking dreams and expectations painfully fell, shattering at our feet.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 ESV)

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:17-18)

In retrospect, I realized He had repeatedly warned me through His Word, just as He had the disciples. And I, like them, just didn’t understand. I would sing about this world not being my home, but in reality, it was my home. I had forgotten I was just a sojourner here. I had unintentionally allowed part of my hope to rest on the future and well-being of my little earthly kingdom.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober [in spirit,] fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 1:13)

Followers of Christ have in Him a sure and certain future. Hope fixed completely on Him and the grace He will bring at His revelation is unshakable hope. This rightly fixed hope is the anchor of our souls and the source of our peace. This peace prevails and passes all understanding, even in the midst of deep temporal suffering. It is this peace that Christ stood offering the disciples. And He continues freely offering it to each of us today, “Peace be with you.”

Peace be with you: When you are afraid

The disciples were meeting behind closed doors when Jesus came to them. John 20:19 specifically records that “the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.” As their hopes and expectations fell, their fears rose. They were uncertain and afraid. Their fears were justified. Their Lord had just been tortured and crucified, and they were likely to be next.

And yet, as they gathered together in fear and uncertainty, Jesus came to them and greeted them with “Peace be with you.” He stood before them, having just paid their sin debt and ours, risen from the dead, and having defeated death. He stood before them having secured their eternal future, and the future of all who have and will believe in Him (Acts 16:31).

Though the trials and sorrows of this life are real and painful, they, like this life itself, are but a vapor (Jas. 4:14). We in Christ need not fear, our destination is secure. He is continually with us in the journey, abiding and sustaining, and He will safely lead us home. Look to Him and freely be liberated from fear today. His compassionate offer remains, “Peace be with you.”

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:28-31 ESV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)

Peace be with you: When you have failed

As the disciples met behind closed doors that night, shame and disappointment likely loomed alongside the disillusionment and fear they felt. Jesus had predicted they would all fall away and leave Him alone the night He was seized, and it had happened just as He said (Matt. 26:31-35).

Peter bore the tremendous weight of not only falling away but also overtly denying Him. Peter in his fiery love for Jesus had boldly proclaimed he would die with Him before he would deny Him. And yet in the frailty of his flesh, he denied Him, not once but three times, and Jesus knew. After Peter had denied Jesus the third time “the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62).

I’m optimistic after denying Him and weeping bitterly Peter recalled Jesus’ words to him from their last supper together. Jesus had warned Peter that very night that Satan was going to “sift him.” But that warning was followed with a tremendously hopeful word, Jesus Himself had prayed for Peter, that his faith would not fail. He went on to encourage Peter that when he had “turned again” (repented), he should strengthen his brothers.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded [permission] to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22:31-34)

Peter’s sinful betrayal of Christ took him to the end of himself. He thought he could serve, follow, and stand with Christ in his own strength. Satan’s sifting revealed the insufficiency of Peter’s sinful self-sufficiency. As His beloved Lord looked upon him in his denial, Peter’s eyes were painfully opened to his frailty and depravity. Satan meant it for harm, but God used it for good. Satan’s sifting, used by God as a refining flame, sanctified and fortified the faith of Peter.

It is against this backdrop of failure, shame, and sorrow that our compassionate Lord Jesus Christ entered the room with His downcast and fearful disciples. His steadfast love was tenderly displayed as He came to them not with rebukes and chastening in that moment, but freely offering the balm of His prevailing peace.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. (Ps. 103:11-14 ESV)

He freely offers us this same prevailing peace in the midst of our sins, failures, and brokenness as we turn in repentance toward Him. Just as He prayed for Peter, He is actively praying for those of us who are surrendered to Him. Receive His peace today. He is calling, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25 ESV)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:15-16 ESV)

Peace be with you. 

Peace be with you when your vision for your life is shattered.

Peace be with you when you are afraid.

Peace be with you when you have failed.

Peace be with you.

Our peace is not dependent upon our temporal well-being, good or bad circumstances, our courageousness or fearfulness, or our successes or failures. Our peace rests fully on the hope of Jesus Christ. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). He alone is the source of our unshakable hope and prevailing peace.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (2 Cor. 4:16-17)