Think for a moment about the last time you royally let somebody down. Perhaps it was a student, a co-worker, or your spouse.

We’ve all done it—maybe even this morning. And we’re all familiar with that anxious anticipation that lies between the realization that we’ve let someone down and our next point of contact with that someone. Will there be wrath, or will there be mercy? Will we be let off the hook or made to squirm a while in our failure?

Now think about the precise moment when Jesus’ disciples first heard rumors that His tomb was empty. They were huddling timidly in fear of the Jews — and let’s be honest, the last time the disciples had been with Jesus was not their finest hour. They’d just pulled one of the biggest letdowns in history. So when they heard the news about the empty tomb, their knee-jerk reaction may have been less of an ecstatic high-five than an apprehensive, “We’re in for it now!”

The passages below record the first post-Resurrection contact between Jesus and His disciples — the disciples’ moment of truth. As you read these verses, take a minute to underline the first words from Jesus’ resurrected mouth.

SCRIPTURE TEXT
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” — John 20:19-21, NIV

And later, with Thomas:
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” — John 20:26, NIV

19 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” 20 Then he showed them his hands and side. The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. 21 Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” — John 20:19-21, The Message

And later, with Thomas:
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” — John 20:26, The Message

Think About It
Did you spot a trend? The first word out of Jesus’ mouth to each disciple was simply this: Peace. Granted, this was a typical Jewish greeting in Jesus’ day. But, remarkably, not one of the Gospels records Jesus using this greeting with His disciples (or anyone else) prior to this moment. Obviously, Jesus meant a good deal more than “How’s it going?”

Simple Greeting
Let’s say Jesus was simply using the customary greeting of His day. Doesn’t it still speak volumes to an apprehensive huddle of guys who were expecting a thunderous rebuke? (By the way, Mark’s account does include a rebuke, yet not for the disciples’ failure during Jesus’ trial but for being slow to believe the reports of His resurrection.) In this seminal moment, Jesus’ words “Peace be with you” were like one friend saying to another, “You’re off the hook.” After Jesus spoke these words, you can sense the relief in the disciples’ reaction — they were exuberant, likely even giddy. And if words of peace weren’t enough assurance, Jesus told them in the next breath — as if they’d never let Him down — that He was entrusting them with responsibility, just as His own Father trusted Him.

Deeper Greeting
Jesus could have said many things at that moment. He had grounds for the biggest “I told you so” of all time. But peace was the word He chose — the word He used to usher in the post-Resurrection era, an era to be characterized by peace, mercy, and grace — a cosmic “letting off of the hook.”

The last time the disciples had heard Jesus use this word, He’d spoken of a brand of peace that is literally out of this world (John 14:27). Here He was emphasizing this new kind of peace — cosmic peace, if you will — in a way that must have stuck out to them like an Old Maid card in a hand. Think of the obvious, intentional way Jesus must have said it: “Peace, Peter. Peace, my good friend, John. Peace to you, Thomas …” These men who had lived and walked with Jesus had seen His peace lived out and taught, but they were slow to learn. Perhaps Jesus was giving them one final chance to connect the dots while He was still with them. Maybe with Him standing before them in resurrected form, some things would begin to fall into place.

Cosmic Peace
Apparently, things did fall into place! Throughout the first century, peace became synonymous with the gospel. Nearly every New Testament letter (including Paul’s letters) begins with a greeting of peace. The Greek word we translate as peace had an unspiritual, utilitarian use in the Greek culture, simply connoting the absence of war or conflict. But as the cosmic picture came into focus after Jesus’ resurrection, the New Testament writers latched on to this word — almost like an audio logo (think “Intel Inside”) — to convey in shorthand all that had transpired through Christ between the fallen world and its Creator. Peace. Paul painted the picture this way in Colossians:
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation … — Colossians 1:21-22, NIV

21 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble
every chance you got. 22 But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives
together, whole and holy in his presence. — Colossians 1:21-22, The Message

The warring enemies in our minds have been reconciled and are now on God’s side. That’s peace.

Apply It
There’s no better feeling than being let off the hook. Probably because there’s not a worse feeling than being “on the hook” — knowing our failure has let someone down. Like the disciples, we each have plenty of occasions to think we’ve let Jesus down — and we’re more than a little nervous about what He might say the next time we see Him.

What has you “on the hook” these days?
(Check any that apply, add a few of your own, and journal a thought or two.)
o  Feelings that you don’t measure up?
o  Thinking anyone could do student ministry better than you’re doing it?
o  Not having had a meaningful time with God in days, weeks, or even months?
o _____________________________
o _____________________________

What’s warring in your mind?
o  Nagging temptations you think you should have conquered by now?
o  Guilt over doubts or questions about faith or your calling?
o _____________________________
o _____________________________

Think about the students you work with. What has them “on the hook”?
o  The constant “commit-fail” cycle?
o  Doubts about God or themselves?
o  Insecurity about their faith or salvation?
o _____________________________
o _____________________________

What do students feel from you whenever they let you down? How can your response to those situations communicate that we’re living in the post-Resurrection era of peace? Journal any thoughts that come to mind.

More than any place I can think of, today’s school campuses embody the tumult between the fallen world and its Creator. Tonight millions of teens will go to bed having experienced myriad opportunities to royally let someone down — to let Jesus down. Like the disciples, they may be living in anxious anticipation of seeing whomever they’ve failed and hearing the words “You blew it.” Yet the One whose opinion matters most is desperate to let them off the hook. Perhaps that’s why student ministry is so fulfilling. We get to tell a tumult-prone generation that cosmic peace is with them.

But let’s start with you. Remind yourself of the things that have you on the hook. Picture Jesus standing in front of you, cupping His hands around your face or placing them on your shoulders, and simply saying, “Peace be with you!” Then listen to the next thing He says to you. It will be as if you’ve never let Him down. You’re off the hook.

____________________

A 20-year youth ministry veteran, Barry Shafer is the founder and director of InWord Resources (www.inword.org), a ministry that encourages depth in youth  ministry by enabling students and youth workers to become better equipped with God’s Word. Barry is the author of numerous student devotionals and
small-group studies, including James: 12 Inductive Sessions on Practical Christianity (YS).