Cross Into Your Life

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!”

 John 20:19 (NIV)

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Jesus was crucified and buried three days ago.  Now you hear wild reports that He is risen from the grave, risen from the dead!  You can't believe it!  Impossible!  No way!  Yet, Mary Magdalene says she met Jesus!  The Risen Jesus!  What is going on!  Could it be?  He raised others from the dead.  Did he raise Himself?  So many questions!  Where are the answers!  Who knows what is going on?  So much excitement!  So much chaos! 

And then it happens.  In the midst of all the anticipation and excitement and wondering, Jesus appears.  And His first words to the apostles are just what everyone needed to hear. 

"Peace be with you." 

Now the peace that Jesus gives is not the peace you think of as between two enemies.  Jesus has already turned that idea upside down when He tells you to "Love your enemies."  (Matthew 5:44 NIV)

This is the peace of knowing that God the Father, through Jesus, with the Holy Spirit loves you.  And that He will be there for you.  In this life.  In the next.  God saves you.  God is with you.  God loves you.  That should give you tremendous peace. 

So think of that.  Jesus returns from the grave, the Messiah is victorious!  Victorious!  He wants to celebrate with His apostles and show them that now there should never be another doubt about who they are, who loves them and who saved them.  And the words he chooses to say in that pivotal point in history is "Peace be with you."  How great is that?

In other words, He is letting you know that no matter what happens, Jesus, the Messiah, has conquered death, not only for Himself, but for all who accept the invitation to live with Him! 

Say YES to the invitation.  And Peace be with you!  

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About the Painting:

I wanted the painting to be peaceful to look at.  So I used just 3 colors - green, blue and yellow.  They seem like very calm colors to me.  The kind of colors that relax you. 

I chose to show the quote because that way you can picture Jesus saying those words to you.  Think about what those words mean to you in this life. 

Believe in the Father's love. 

Trust in Jesus.  

Receive His peace.  

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• Copyright information on Bible quotes used on this page. 
• New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society.