Now during this time when Jesus was with His disciples, Thomas was absent. Then we can say to one another, 'Peace be with you.' A Christian requires the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be able to truly forgive.

Please understand that it is only as a Christian who has received the Holy Spirit that we can forgive one another from the heart. Jesus adds that we are to receive the Holy Spirit and we are to forgive one another (John 20:22,23). So the question is, 'Has Jesus sent you?' But he added, 'As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' The third thing to notice is that as a Christian, we are sent by Jesus Christ (John 20:21). Then He said, 'Peace be with you' (John 20:21). Now Jesus showed His disciples the holes in His hands and the wound in His side. Are we doing the will of the Father? This is the Christian who can say, 'Peace be with you.' Jesus said that the one who does the will of His Father will enter heaven. When we consider ourselves Christian and we use the title Lord to refer to Jesus, we need to understand who Jesus considers to be a Christian. There was a time when Jesus said, 'Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter' (Matthew 7:21). Those of us who consider ourselves Christian sometimes use the title, 'Lord,' to refer to Jesus. Now I realize that some of us also call ourselves Christian because we have had a personal encounter with Jesus.īut who does Jesus consider to be a Christian? We need to go back to the Scriptures again. Or we attend a Christian church, so we consider ourselves to be Christian. Generally, this is because many of us were born into a Christian family. Who is a disciple of Jesus Christ? Now many of us consider ourselves to be Christian. The second thing to notice is that Jesus used this expression of peace with His disciples. When we choose to walk by faith with Jesus Christ, Satan no longer has to have control over our emotions and thoughts. By His resurrection, Jesus has defeated Satan and the power of sin.

He did not use this greeting before His resurrection. The first thing to notice is that Jesus used this greeting of peace after His resurrection. And quite frequently we will express to one another, 'Peace be with you.' I would like to explore the Scriptures to discover what we are actually expressing to one another when we use this greeting.Īfter His death and resurrection, Jesus used this greeting three times when He met with His disciples (John 20:19-29).

During our Sunday morning church services, we often take time to greet one another.

Jesus said peace be still