John 20 begins before daybreak, in the darkness. Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb and sees the stone has been moved. She alerts the others, and Peter and John rush to investigate. They plainly see the burial clothes lying there, but don’t yet understand fully the Scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.
 
Outside the tomb, Mary remains, weeping. The resurrection had already occurred, and victory won, but she doesn’t yet recognize what God has done. All she can see is the empty tomb and more loss. Then … Jesus calls her name.

“Mary …”

It’s an experience common to humanity and even to animals. Recognition is a result of relationship. Our outside cats and dogs love each other, sleep in a giant pile and care for one another all year long. But a dog or cat from another family or home isn’t welcome … there’s no relationship, no recognition.
 
For Mary, Jesus isn’t an abstract force or distant symbol of hope. He’s the same Lord who knows His people and calls them by name.
 
Later, behind the closed doors of the upper room, the disciples gather, afraid. While they cringed in fear, Jesus appeared and stood among them. His first words aren’t condemnation for abandoning Him or rebuke for hiding. Instead, He says, “Peace be with you.”

Then He shows them His hands and His side. I always wondered why, if they always wore sandals, no one looked at His feet! But that’s for another day. This body standing in front of them is the same body that was on the cross, the same body they laid in the tomb.

Resurrection had transformed Him, but it didn’t erase the story of His sacrifice. His wounds remained as a testimony that the One who conquered death is the same One who gave Himself for them.
 
But His resurrection didn’t end the mission; it empowered it. He hadn’t come to take them out of the world, but to send them out in it. He commissions a people who move toward fear, sorrow, doubt, and brokenness with the glorious message of peace.
 
They aren’t to go under their own power but in the Power of His Spirit. His life will sustain their mission.
 
I also love that John includes the story of Thomas. Jesus meets Thomas in the midst of his doubts and invites his examination. Thomas responds with one of the clearest and most concise confessions in the Gospels, “My Lord and my God!”

To live in the Way of resurrection isn’t to walk in denial, escapism, or triumphalism, but to be sent by Jesus, empowered by His Spirit, marked with His peace, and centered on Who He is.
 
Today, He still meets fearful and doubtful people behind locked doors and locked hearts. He then sends us into the world as His witnesses of the life we’ve received.  

Where has fear or doubt caused you to withdraw, hide, or remain silent? Who around you needs to encounter the peace, presence, or patient truth of the risen Jesus through your faithful witness? What can you do to take that peace to them today?

Abba, thank you for meeting Your people in grief, fear, and doubt. Empower me to speak Your peace into places where it is missing. Speak Your peace into my own heart where I’ve withdrawn myself behind the closed doors of my own protection. Make my life a faithful witness to Your resurrection as I move towards others in humility, with courage, truth, and the peace You’ve given me. Amen.

“This week I can carry the peace of Jesus toward __________________.”