John 20:19

John moved his readers directly from the events of Easter morning to those that happened that evening.

"The seventh day of the week, the Sabbath, commemorates God’s finished work of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3). The Lord’s Day commemorates Christ’s finished work of redemption, the ’new creation.’ . . .

"For centuries, the Jewish Sabbath had been associated with Law: six days of work, and then you rest. But the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, is associated with grace: first there is faith in the living Christ, then there will be works." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:391, 392.]

Apparently the Eleven except Thomas were present (cf. Mark 16:14; John 20:24). How much Thomas missed because he did not meet with the other disciples on the Lord’s Day (cf. Hebrews 10:22-25)! He had to endure a whole week of fear and unbelief unnecessarily. The disciples had gathered in a secure room because they feared the Jewish authorities. The Jewish authorities had crucified their rabbi, so it was reasonable to think that they might come after them as well. Contrast their boldness following Jesus’ ascension just a few weeks later.

John implied that Jesus appeared miraculously even though the disciples had shut up (Gr. kekleismenon, i.e., "locked" NIV) the doors (cf. John 20:26). Jesus’ resurrection body had passed through grave clothes and a rocky tomb. Now it passed through the walls of this structure.

Jesus’ greeting was common enough (i.e., Heb. shalom ’alekem). However, He had formerly promised His disciples His peace (John 14:27; John 16:33). Consequently He was imparting rather than just wishing peace on them. This seems clear because Jesus repeated the benediction two more times (John 20:21; John 20:26). "Shalom" summarized the fullness of God’s blessing, not just the cessation of hostility (cf. Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7).

"Never had that ’common word’ [Shalom] been so filled with meaning as when Jesus uttered it on Easter evening. . . . His ’Shalom!’ on Easter evening is the complement of ’it is finished’ on the cross, for the peace of reconciliation and life from God is now imparted. ’Shalom!’ accordingly is supremely the Easter greeting. Not surprisingly it is included, along with ’grace,’ in the greeting of every epistle of Paul in the NT." [Note: Beasley-Murray, pp. 378-79.]