Do You Have a Resurrection Peace?

In John 20, we see Jesus appearing to his disciples after the resurrection, and the first words out of his mouth are, “Peace be with you.” This is not just a greeting, but a declaration of a new reality for those who belong to him. The peace Jesus offers is not the absence of trouble, but his presence in the midst of it. The disciples were locked away in fear, but Jesus came right into the middle of their worry and anxiety. He didn’t wait for the storm to pass or for their circumstances to change—he brought peace into the very heart of their fear. This is the resurrection peace that is available to us: a peace that is not dependent on our circumstances, but on the presence of Christ.

This peace is also the foundation for our mission. Just as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends us. The peace that reconciles us to God is the same peace we are called to share with others. We are ambassadors of reconciliation, carrying the message that through Christ, what was separated can be brought together. We don’t have the power to change hearts, but we can open eyes by sharing the truth of the gospel. Sometimes, we are simply planting or watering seeds, not always seeing immediate results, but trusting that God gives the increase.

The resurrection peace also motivates our worship. Thomas missed the first appearance of Jesus because he was not with the other disciples. When we isolate ourselves, we miss out on the blessings and encouragement that come from gathering with the body of Christ. Worship is not just a Sunday activity, but a daily abiding in Christ, remembering his wounds, and letting his presence shape our lives. We are called to be people who carry the peace of Christ wherever we go, so that others might say, “Jesus is here,” when we walk into a room.

This peace is not just for our comfort, but for the world. We are sent out, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the gospel of peace. The world will only know true peace if it knows Jesus. As we go, may we be people who bring the presence, love, and peace of Christ into every situation.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Peace in the Midst of Worry The resurrection peace of Christ is not the absence of trouble, but his presence in the middle of our fears and anxieties. Like the disciples locked away in fear, we often want God to remove our storms, but instead, he steps into them with us. This peace allows us to be glad and joyful even when circumstances remain unchanged, because our security is rooted in what Jesus has done, not in what we face. [12:35]
• 2. Mission Flows from Reconciliation Jesus sends us as the Father sent him, to be agents of reconciliation in a divided world. The peace we have with God through Christ enables us to invite others into that same relationship. We are not responsible for changing hearts, but we are called to faithfully plant and water seeds of the gospel, trusting God to bring the increase in his time. [20:16]
• 3. Worship Requires Presence and Abiding Isolation robs us of the blessings of worship and community. Like Thomas, when we separate ourselves, we miss out on encounters with Christ and the encouragement of others. True worship is both corporate and personal—gathering with others and abiding in Christ daily, letting his wounds and his love draw us into deeper devotion. [43:31]
• 4. Empowered by the Spirit for Witness We are not sent out empty-handed; the Holy Spirit indwells and empowers us to be bold witnesses. Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event, but a continual surrender and dependence on God’s power. Only through his strength can we truly share the gospel of peace and unlock freedom for those in bondage. [36:54]
• 5. Carrying Resurrection Peace to the World The world’s only hope for true peace is found in Jesus. As we go about our lives, we are called to be living demonstrations of his peace, love, and presence. Our lives should prompt others to recognize Christ in us, making us bearers of resurrection peace wherever we go. [50:33]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:42] - Thanksgiving Service and Advent Plans
• [02:37] - Reading John 20:19-31
• [05:11] - What is Resurrection Peace?
• [08:40] - Peace in the Midst of Worry
• [13:48] - Looking to the Cross for Peace
• [16:56] - Peace and the Mission of Witnessing
• [20:16] - Reconciliation and Sharing the Gospel
• [26:14] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
• [32:13] - Indwelling and Filling of the Spirit
• [36:54] - Empowerment for Witness
• [37:30] - Resurrection Peace Motivates Worship
• [42:11] - The Importance of Gathering
• [47:51] - Abiding in Christ for Worship
• [50:33] - Bringing Peace to the World
• [53:43] - Living as Bearers of Resurrection Peace

Bible Reading

John 20:19-31 (ESV) — 19 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.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Observation Questions

1. What were the disciples doing and feeling when Jesus first appeared to them after the resurrection? ([02:37])
2. How many times does Jesus say “Peace be with you” in this passage, and what does he do right after saying it? ([02:37])
3. What was Thomas’s reaction when the other disciples told him they had seen Jesus, and what did he say he needed in order to believe? ([03:51])
4. What did Jesus do for the disciples after he said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you”? ([03:15])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to say “Peace be with you” as his first words to the disciples after the resurrection? What kind of peace was he offering them? ([08:40])
2. The disciples were locked away in fear, but Jesus came right into the middle of their worry and anxiety. What does this tell us about how Jesus responds to our fears? ([11:52])
3. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” What does it mean for us to be sent in the same way Jesus was sent? ([16:56])
4. Thomas missed Jesus’s first appearance because he was not with the other disciples. What does this teach us about the importance of gathering with other believers? ([42:11])

Application Questions

1. Think about a recent situation where you felt anxious or afraid. Did you look for Jesus’s presence in the middle of it, or did you just want the problem to go away? How can you practice noticing Jesus with you in the middle of your worries this week? ([12:35])
2. The sermon said, “We are not responsible for changing hearts, but we are called to faithfully plant and water seeds of the gospel.” Who is someone in your life that you can share a word of hope or truth with, even if you don’t see immediate results? What’s one step you can take this week? ([20:16])
3. Is there a way you have been isolating yourself from Christian community, like Thomas did? What is one practical thing you can do to reconnect or be more present with other believers? ([43:31])
4. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold witnesses. Are there areas where you feel you are trying to do things in your own strength instead of depending on the Spirit? What would it look like to surrender and ask for his help? ([36:54])
5. The sermon shared a story about a little girl who shouted, “Jesus is here!” when the pastor arrived. Do people sense the peace and presence of Jesus when you walk into a room? What is one way you can be more intentional about carrying Christ’s peace into your home, work, or neighborhood this week? ([53:43])
6. Worship is not just a Sunday activity, but a daily abiding in Christ. What is one new habit you can start this week to help you remember Jesus’s wounds and let his presence shape your life each day? ([47:51])
7. The world’s only hope for true peace is found in Jesus. Where do you see a need for peace in your community or relationships? How can you be a bearer of resurrection peace in that situation? ([50:33])