Though we serve a risen savior, we are often faced with difficult situations. Those we love perish, and grief grips us. Our finances crumble, and fear overtakes us. We face physical, spiritual, and mental losses and wonder how or if we will recover.

The disciples of Jesus Christ were very familiar with grief and fear. They saw what happens to those who go against the status quo. So, they went to the upper room, closed the door, and locked themselves away from the world.

Have you ever felt so afraid and so beat down by the world that you just wanted to close the door and lock yourself away? It’s in moments like those that we need to listen to the words of Jesus, “Peace be with you.” The peace of Jesus comforts us in our grief and overcomes our fears.

We notice a few things in Jesus’ encounter with the disciples. First, Jesus proclaims peace to them more than once. Sometimes, we need to be reminded that peace is with us. Second, Jesus sends them out. They could not remain behind locked doors forever. Third, “he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 20:22). 

While the Holy Spirit is received, peace is realized. In other words, the words of Jesus are not a wish that they would find peace, rather it is a proclamation that peace is already there. 

Jesus comes to us while we are locked up in our grief and fear and proclaims that peace is with us. He calls us out of our private spaces and sends us out to proclaim God’s peace to all. Jesus Christ has breathed life into our souls, we have received the Holy Spirit of God. Now, all we have to do is unlock the door, open it and walk into the peace that is with us all.