"Peace unto you" (John 20:19, 2119Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19)
21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21)). All was finished. The battle was fought, the victory gained. The conqueror was in the midst of His disciples-the true David with the head of the Philistine in His hand. All possible ground of anxiety was forever removed. Peace was made, and established on a basis which could never be moved.
It was utterly impossible that any power of earth or hell could ever touch the foundation of that peace which a risen Savior was now breathing into the souls of His gathered disciples. He had made peace by the blood of His cross. He had met every foe. He had encountered the marshaled hosts of hell, and made a show of them openly. The full tide of Jehovah's righteous wrath against sin had rolled over Him. He had taken the sting from death, and spoiled the grave of its victory. In a word, the triumph was glorious and complete; and the blessed victor at once presents Himself to the eyes and to the hearts of His beloved people, and sounds in their ears the precious word "peace."
And then mark the significant action: "He showed unto them His hands and His side." He brings them into immediate contact with Himself. He reveals His Person to their souls, and shows them the unequivocal tokens of His cross and passion-the wondrous proofs of accomplished atonement. It is a risen Savior, bearing in His body the marks of that death through which He has passed for His people. This is the secret of peace.