Really, if you think about it, they hadn’t been apart that long. It’s not like their reunion was a get together after ten years . . . nor was it a five year reunion . . . it wasn’t even a one year reunion . . . actually, it had only been three days. Only three days since they had been together . . . stretch it to four days if you clock it from time they last were together in a room interacting.

But it wasn’t so much about the length of time they had been apart . . . it was about the extent to which they had been apart. First, sleep had separated them. They were together in the garden and He had a need to pray . . . “Pray with me,” He asked. But they couldn’t keep their eyes open . . . so He prayed alone. Then came the posse sent by the chief priests and Pharisees . . . and they took Him away . . . and the disciples ran in the other direction. But a few had followed Jesus to the court of the high priest, but there too, one of them removed himself farther from the Master as three times he denied he knew the Man. And I’m guessing most, if not all of them, were standing somewhere in the crowd as He was crucified . . . the distance and separation growing as they watched the One in whom they had placed their hope give up His life. Dead . . . buried . . . for three days. No one was expecting a reunion . . . until that blessed morning.

Mary was the first to find out something was up ( . . . literally . . “Up!” . . . as in “raised from the dead” up!). She found the empty tomb and ran to tell the others. Peter and John high-tailed it to Jesus’ burial site and confirmed Mary’s report . . . stone removed . . . burial garments in tact . . . no body and nobody to be found . . . and it started to dawn on John . . . he believed (John 20:1-8). And then that night, as the disciples huddled together behind closed doors, it happened . . .

“Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!’ ” (John 20:19-21)

It wasn’t how long it had been since they had last seen Him, but the fact that they never thought they’d see Him again. But there He was . . . alive . . . standing in their midst . . . and they were glad . . . . ya’ think? And notice Jesus’ reunion theme . . . check out the first words out of His mouth that He deemed the most appropriate, most important implication of them being together again . . . “Peace to you!” Twice He says it. And eight days later, when He shows up in their midst again, this time to graciously woo Thomas’ unbelieving heart, He again stands in their midst and the first words He says are “Peace to you!” (John 19:26).

Isn’t that the bottom line implication of encountering the risen Christ? Isn’t that the “natural” outcome of being with Him? Peace? As we approach “the season” how often are we being reminded that “unto us a Child is born . . . a Son is given . . . and His name shall be called . . . Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). He came to bring peace . . . peace to those who were enemies with God . . . peace to those estranged from the promises of God . . . peace to those separated from by sin . . . peace through redemption . . . peace through reconciliation . . . peace through reunion!

Jesus said that He would leave us His peace . . . that He would give us His peace . . . not as the world gives . . . but the peace of heaven itself (John 14:27). In the world, He said, we would have tribulation, but in Him, we would have peace for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul says it’s a peace that passes all understanding . . . a peace that will garrison the heart and mind (Php. 4:7).

Peace . . . a tranquility . . . a security . . . a safety . . . a harmony . . . a restful assurance. That’s what happens when we connect with Jesus . . . when He is “standing in the midst” . . . “Peace to you!”

And “Praise to You” my King . . . thank You for being in the midst . . . thanx for the “reunion” again this morning . . .