"Easter Night"

First Easter night, and full of fright,

Behind closed doors and all,

The Lord was dead, and all they said,

Was there was no more call,

To go and tell, nightmarish hell,

Was all they thought they had,

Just hide and wait, it was their fate,

And all of it was bad.

But suddenly they all could see,

He stood right in the room,

They thought a ghost, or at the most,

Some messenger of doom.

But instead, the Savior said,

My peace I give to you,

The scars to show, so they would know,

He was alive, it’s true.

I’m sending you, as I’m sent, too,

And then on them He breathed,

The Spirit’s power, that very hour,

He told them to receive.

O blessed night, and filled with light,

Death could not hold him down,

Raised from the dead, and now He said,

They could be safe and sound.

The grace divine, for yours and mine,

He came our souls to save,

His love is real, and we can feel,

The sacrifice He gave.

“Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ He said…” (John 20:19, NLT)

The disciples were discouraged and fearful on Easter night. Suddenly Jesus was there. Often that’s exactly how it happens when the Lord is ready to do something dramatic. People are bewildered, burdened, heartbroken, and depressed. And then, Jesus is there. He seeks all, but especially those who need Him most. And when He comes, He always brings His peace. And that’s the first thing we need. Peace is never the absence of a challenge, it’s God-given confidence in spite of it. While others are ready to panic and give up, we redirect our focus from the threat to the Savior and His presence with us. Reaching out to the One who reaches out to us assures us that we receive the peace He promises. It’s there. He’s there. Get some.

Lord, give us Your peace, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tyler Crow, used by permission. Thanks, Tyler, and God bless you.