In the evening of the resurrection day, the disciples are all gathered together in an upper room, with bolted doors, and He appears in the midst of them. And now, as all eyes are turned upon Him, He greets them with these blessed words—words never uttered before, and now uttered as the fruit of His blood-shedding on the cross: “Peace be with you.” And then, to confirm His words, He shows them “His hands and His side.” Out of those hands, and out of that side, had flowed the blood by which He had made peace; and having made peace, He announces it as theirs, as soon as He is risen from the dead.

Was ever anything more sweet and blessed than such grace as this on the part of the Lord Jesus in telling out the love of God to those He had drawn around Himself? Weak, foolish, halting, doubting, understanding nothing aright—what pains He took to lead them into the enjoyment of that peace which was the fruit of His blood-shedding on the cross! “Peace be with you … Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

And now, doubting one, put yourself in that little company in that upper room. Fix your eyes on Jesus in the midst, and listen to His assuring words, as He says, “Peace be with you.” His word to all such is the same now; and those hands and that side tell the same blessed story of peace to all who believe. Jesus has made peace, and now preaches it (Eph. 2:17). The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord; and there is gladness still for those who believe His blessed Word. Oh! What gladness! Gladness in the presence of God, in a cloudless scene of light and love, where grace reigns through righteousness, and where divine love delights in those brought nigh through the blood of Jesus.