What Did Jesus Say When He Stood Among the Disciples in the Locked Room?

After his crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples were in a state of shock and fear. They had heard rumors that Jesus had risen from the dead, but they were struggling to believe it. Suddenly, Jesus appeared among them in a locked room, and their fear turned to joy.

So what did Jesus say when he stood among the disciples in the locked room? According to the Bible, he said: “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)

This simple phrase was more than just a greeting. It was a reassurance that everything was going to be okay. The disciples were understandably afraid for their lives, but Jesus’ presence brought them peace.

But that wasn’t all he said. In John 20:21-22, it says:

“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.'”

These words were significant because they signaled a new beginning for the disciples. They were no longer just followers of Jesus; they were now his messengers to the world. And with the gift of the Holy Spirit, they had everything they needed to carry out this mission.

Over the next few weeks, Jesus appeared to his disciples several more times. Each time he spoke words of encouragement and instruction. He reminded them of everything he had taught them during his ministry and gave them further insights into God’s plan for humanity.

One of these encounters is recorded in John 21:15-17:

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’

Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.'”

In this exchange, Jesus was commissioning Peter to be a leader among the disciples. By asking him three times if he loved him and then telling him to feed his sheep, Jesus was emphasizing the importance of caring for others.

These are just a few examples of what Jesus said when he stood among the disciples in the locked room and in subsequent encounters. But each word was carefully chosen and had a specific purpose. They were meant to comfort, encourage, instruct, and commission.

As Christians today, we can take comfort in these words as well. We may not have physically been there in the locked room with the disciples, but through the Bible we can hear Jesus’ words for ourselves. And just like the disciples were empowered by his words to go out and spread the gospel message, we too can be inspired to share our faith with those around us.