Easter Sunday

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! – John 20:19-21a

From Sam Lomas:

What does Easter Sunday mean to you?  I remember my first Easter as a Christian and although I still enjoyed getting a chocolate egg, there was something far more important about it now!  I was 17 and for the first time I realised just how significant and amazing Jesus’ death and resurrection (coming back to life) was.

Today, on Easter Sunday we remember how Jesus rose from the dead. Acts 2:24 has one of my favourite descriptions of the resurrection, “God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” 

Jesus conquered Death.  But what does that mean for us?

The stories of the risen Jesus appearing to His followers are remarkable.  In the verses above (John 20.19-21a) we read about one of Jesus’ first appearances.  It took place on the evening of the first Easter Sunday!  The risen Jesus came and stood among the disciples.  In this passage we see how the disciples were afraid after everything that had happened.  So, Jesus greets them with, “Peace be with you.”

What a great first line after you’ve just defeated death.  But what is the peace that Jesus speaks of?  Well, the peace of Jesus has two dimensions:

• First, seeing Jesus would have stilled the anxiety and fear the disciples had, in fact, the passage says the disciples fear was replaced by joy.  This can be true for us today.  If you have fears or anxiety, knowing Jesus as Lord can bring peace to your circumstances.
• Second, when Jesus said “Peace”, it summed up all that He had achieved on the cross with one word – Peace.  By taking our sin and wrongdoing away from us when He died on the cross, Jesus has made away for there to be peace between us and God.  Through faith in Jesus, we can have a relationship with God.

If you don’t know this peace I speak of, if you haven’t put your trust in Jesus, then why not do exactly that this Easter time?  

Trust in Jesus, He is the risen Lord.