Although angels had announced Jesus’ resurrection from the dead very early on that Sunday morning, first to the two Marys, and then to the other women who arrived later to assist them in completing the burial custom for His dead body, and He Himself had appeared later that morning to the two Marys, then to Peter, and then to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, still, the majority of Jesus’ followers, including His apostles, refused to believe it. It wasn’t until later that evening as the two from Emmaus related how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread that Jesus appeared in their midst to finally convince the rest of His apostles—sans Judas, who was dead, and Thomas, who wasn’t among them—that He really was alive. Although Luke kindly omitted the details of their unwillingness to believe, Mark notes that Jesus“reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.” Considering their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him, for which He would shortly reproach them, as well as their individual failures as His apostles to stand up for Him during His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, what is the great significance that His very first words to them were, “Peace be to you” (Luk 24:36, Joh 20:19)? Even though we may fail, often miserably, and may rightly feel the sting of His rod or rebuke, what do His first words to them remind us about the eternal good will of our Master, our Good Shepherd, and how the chastisement of His followers is always remedial, not punitive? As men acquainted with the consequences of such failures in this fallen world, what doubts and fears would they have had that things could ever be the same after their failures and unbelief, especially after three years of following Him? What is the key difference, so evident by Jesus’ first words to them, between the consequences the Lord metes out to discipline His children compared to the consequences we typically experience from the world? Contrast Heb 12:5-6 with one of man’s most common curses, “God damn you,” or “Go to hell.” What does Jesus’ example teach us about the Spirit that should rule our own hearts in regard to the discipline of our children? Cf. Eph 6:4.
What do Jesus’ first words to the disciples as He appeared to them remind us about one of the most central aspects of God’s nature and character? Cf. Rom 15:33, 16:20, 1Co 14:33, Phil 4:9, 1Th 5:23, 2Th 3:16, Heb 13:20. As peace is so central to God’s nature, in what ways is it also central to the gospel and what God seeks to accomplish through it? See Isa 52:7, Luk 1:79, 7:50, 8:48, 10:5-6, 19:42, Joh 14:27, 16:33, Act 10:36, Rom 5:1, 8:6, 12:18, 14:17,19, 2Co 5:19-20, 13:11, Gal 5:22, Eph 2:14-17, 4:2-3, 6:15, Col 3:15, 2Ti 2:22, Heb 12:14, Jam 3:18, 1Pe 3:8-11, 2Pe 3:14. In this light, what should we understand about what it actually means to be saved, and what one of the most important marks is that indicates our life has been touched by the gospel? What does that peace actually look like when manifested in our lives as described in Scripture? See Mat 5:3-11,39-42, 27:12-14, 1Co 4:12-13, 6:7, 1Th 5:15.
In addition to their internal turmoils, what additional information does John provide for why the apostles were already on edge as they were gathered together that evening, which made Jesus’ first words to them all the more appropriate to also remove their external apprehensions? See Joh 20:19, and recall that as leaders within Jesus’ movement they were fearful of being targeted as well, especially after Jesus’ body came up missing and the only rational explanation to their enemies who held all civil and ecclesiastical power was that they had stolen it. In what way would Jesus’ words, and the knowledge that He was really alive, and of the hope that His resurrection bode for themselves to also overcome death, have helped them to overcome such fears like nothing else? Cf. Don Franscico’s He’s Alive. Do these same words of Jesus and the knowledge of all the truth they convey likewise dispel our own fears as our efforts to further His kingdom on earth are often met with similar opposition by those who wield worldly power and authority over us? Cf. again Joh 14:27, 16:33.