Sunday, April 12th, 2026
Scriptures: John 20:19-31
Sermon title: The gift of peace
- The disciples’ fear
On Sunday evening, the disciples had already heard the news: the tomb was empty. Peter and John confirmed it, and Mary testified that she had seen the Lord. Yet, in the midst of confusion and fear, especially of the Jewish leaders, they locked themselves in a room, worried they might be accused of stealing Jesus’ body. We know from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 27, that the Jewish authorities had sealed the tomb and posted guards, and Jesus had already been executed under Roman authority for claiming to be “King of the Jews.”
Even after hearing the good news of Jesus’ resurrection from Mary Magdalene, the disciples were still afraid, fearful of being arrested, condemned, and identified as His followers. Their fear for their safety overwhelmed them.
Fear can be intense and overwhelming, yet it is something we all experience fear of failure, rejection, change, or sickness. Fear can become like a prison in the mind, holding us captive with doubt, limiting our confidence, and shaping how we live, until it blinds us to the possibilities before us.
You don’t have to live in fear forever. Jesus entered through locked doors and said, “Peace be with you,” bringing reassurance to His fearful disciples. Knowing their doubt, He showed them His wounds as proof of His presence. While human strategies to overcome fear may help, they are not always effective. The good news is that Jesus knows your struggles and meets you right where you are, even behind the walls you build. He comes not with condemnation, but with peace, turning fear into joy.
Jesus didn’t give His disciples peace so they could stay hidden, but He sent them into the world to continue His mission, saying, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” In that moment, they moved from being disciples, learners, to apostles, those sent out. Having learned from Jesus’ words and example about God’s Kingdom, they were now commissioned to go, just as we are sent today.
The peace of Christ we share each Sunday must extend beyond the church to those living in fear and uncertainty. We carry on His mission, sustained by His peace through every challenge, even in the face of death.
- The gift of the Holy Spirit
You do not need to be afraid, because you have the Holy Spirit. As Scripture says, “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” Jesus not only brought peace but also gave His Spirit to remain with them, and with us. The Holy Spirit is the power of the Christian life, helping us overcome fear and doubt, believe without seeing, and share God’s message with confidence.
Though Jesus would no longer walk with the disciples physically, the Holy Spirit would remain as His continual presence, giving them strength, boldness, wisdom, and the gifts needed to proclaim the gospel and face opposition. Through the Spirit, they, and we are made new in Christ, living in God’s righteousness.
The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, guiding us, correcting us, and leading us each day. Since the Spirit lives in us, the peace of Christ also dwells within us.
- Thomas’ doubt
When Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, Thomas was not with them. While the others were filled with joy, Thomas was still grieving and struggled in his faith, wanting proof for himself. This does not mean he lacked faith; he was a devoted and courageous disciple who had followed Jesus even in danger and had witnessed miracles like the raising of Lazarus. Thomas was honest, bold, and practical, asking questions such as, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Thomas wanted to see and touch Jesus’ wounds for himself, and Jesus responded. Eight days later, Jesus appeared again, this time with Thomas present.
We are called to believe even without seeing. When we bring our doubts and questions to Christ, He meets us with grace and transforms our uncertainty. Jesus welcomes our honest questions and invites us to pray with confidence, trusting that He will respond.
- The blessing of believing without seeing
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” He reminds us that even without seeing Him, there is a blessing in believing. True transformation comes through faith in Jesus, when we trust Him, hear His Word, and seek the Holy Spirit. God works powerfully in our lives.
Jesus calls us to believe without seeing, for when we truly understand who He is, our doubts begin to fade. We have every reason to trust God and make Him the foundation and center of our lives.
- Conclusion
In the midst of our doubts and fears, the crucified and risen Christ speaks to us: “Peace be with you.” This peace, shalom, comes from the Hebrew shalam, meaning wholeness, where nothing is missing, and nothing is broken. God’s peace is a daily gift, available to calm your heart, strengthen you in trials, and draw you closer to Him. To receive it, trust God, remain in His Word, and stay in His presence. Though our emotions change, God’s peace is constant. Today, pause, invite God into your worries, surrender what weighs you down, and ask: What can I release to God so I may walk more fully in His peace? Amen.