Again we are told that it was “the first day of the week” (v. 19; cf. v. 1). But now it is evening. News of the resurrection came with the morning. Now it is evening. How is it with the disciples?
John, we were told, saw and believed (v. 8). What about those that did not see? Mary was instructed to return to the disciples and tell them that Jesus said, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (v. 17). Christ has not only risen; He is ascending. All the blessed promises—the promises of comfort, the promises of a Comforter—all the promises of the Upper Room are to come true. It is not unlikely that they are in that very upper room now. On the cusp of Pentecost, that day when the Spirit promised them in the Upper Room would come upon them, we read that they were again in an “upper room” (Acts 1:13). The Christ has risen! He is ascending! They are gathered likely in the upper room where they both heard and will realize these promises. Do they remember all those promises? How is it with these disciples this Sunday evening?
In Luke’s account, when the women return with their report, we are told, “But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women” (Luke 24:11). We always pick on doubting Thomas. The doubting disciples needed just as much as he did for their withering faith to revive. There was a more than a little Thomas in most of them. There is more than a little Thomas in all of us. With the eyes of faith, we again and again need to see the crucified Christ, risen and ascended, and know that all the promises of the upper room are true. We need a gracious Christ to come to us by the Spirit through His Word and mercifully make Himself known to us. This is why we gather every Lord’s day.
The disciples are not only in disbelief, they are afraid. They are afraid because of their disbelief. Jesus has risen, and they are afraid. They have locked the doors for fear of the Jews (v. 19). The tomb is open, but their door is shut. It would appear they are more inclined to believe Mary’s first report to Peter and John, rather than the second. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb” (v. 2). They have taken the Lord, so they think, and now they are afraid that they will take them too. Earlier we were told that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews (19:38). But while that disciple, who did fear, was now acting boldly after the crucifixion, these disciples are now hiding and acting in fear. And to His doubting and fearful disciples, Jesus mercifully comes, stands among them, and says, “Peace be to you.”
Fearful and doubting soul, hear the risen Christ saying this by His word even now. Unfortunately, at this point many allow themselves too much liberty to wander off into pointless speculations. How did Jesus get into the room? Did He walk through the walls? Did He just materialize? I have referred to this as the “locked room,” but perhaps the locked door opened for Jesus just as the gate opened for Peter when he was imprisoned in Acts 12. We are not told. What we know is that Jesus, in His resurrection, has a glorified body, and in that body, He stands among them and says “Peace be with you.” Never mind how He stands among them, listen to what He says.
This was and remains a typical Jewish greeting, but it is as though Jesus is the first one to say it and truly mean it. Jesus says it not as a mere greeting, but as a declaration. Jesus says it not simply as a prayerful benediction. He declares it as His divine will with authority. Jesus says it with full significance. And He says it to doubting fearful lambs; lambs He has purchased by His blood. He has bought this peace and He intends for them to know it.
No Other Boast 