Joy Inside

It had been a long day. Mary Magdalene and other women went to the tomb to find the stone rolled away, and angels who said that the tomb was empty because Jesus was alive (Luke 24:1-8). Later, Jesus appeared to Mary, Peter and the two disciples who lived in Emmaus (Luke 24:33-35). The disciples did not know quite what to make of these reports and discussed them behind locked doors, fearing that the authorities would target them now that the body of Jesus was missing.
 
However the locked door could not keep Jesus out any more than the grave stone could keep Jesus in the tomb. He was alive but now with a new kind of body which could pass through walls, appearing and then disappearing. Yet His body was fully recognisable and retained the marks of the wounds in His hands and side. The reaction of the disciples was of overwhelming joy! His familiar greeting, “Shalom” (a profound word extending far beyond ’hello’ or ‘goodbye’ … it is more like - ‘may everything that is good from God come to you’), took on a new meaning as their grief and fear were swept away by His presence.
 
Jesus brings peace. He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). It has been said that peace and joy are linked: ‘peace is joy when it is resting and joy is peace when it is dancing’! They are both fruit of the Holy Spirit’s presence (Galatians 5:22). Peace and joy both come when we surrender to the Lordship of Christ, and stop trying to protect ourselves - letting the authority of Christ be our defence. Although our circumstances will never be the same as those disciples, every time we think that things are out of our control we will feel down and want to hide away, but every time we welcome Jesus to take control we will experience both peace and joy.