What the disciples deserved was a good tongue lashing. What they received was the most joyous news they could have possibly imagined – “Peace be with you.” The disciples’ fear and weakness had led them to flee from their Lord in His hour of need and deny even knowing Him to save their own skin. What unimaginable relief for the souls of the apostles that the very first thing our Lord speaks is peace. He’s not interested in retribution. He is not filled with anger or even disappointment. He is filled with the eternal peace that He had just accomplished through His death and resurrection. That is what Christ comes to give to all whose souls are weighed down by the immense guilt and sorrow of their own denials and betrayals of Christ. At least in part, we, like the apostles, gather together in our own upper room because we are afraid. We are afraid of what the world might do to us. We are afraid that we will give up the battle. Maybe we are even afraid that Jesus will come and give us the tongue lashing we deserve for our sin. In any case, it is good that we are here because the risen Lord Jesus comes into our midst to bring us the peace of His pierced hands and feet that now sit exalted at the right hand of God. And to each of us He speaks those words that are most needed – “Peace be with you.” I look forward to seeing all of you this coming Lord’s Day.
Pastor Ulmer