"19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
John 20:19-31
There is almost a whole theology in 20. Not only do John's words constitute a clear evidence that our Lord's resurrection was a bodily one, not merely spiritual, but it also points us to the ground and fountainhead of peace. It is the risen Saviour that gives peace; but it is the death that the risen Saviour died that wins and provides it. This is the distinguishing mark of all true worship - the risen Christ in the midst of His people, reminding men of the death He died for their salvation. 'Behold My hands', He cries, this is where the fountain is opened for sin and for uncleanness. The blood that flowed from these pierced hands flowed right to the throne of God and touched the holy heart of the Father on high, turning His anger away, so making peace. Sin no longer stands - as it once stood - between God and the world. It is removed and washed away. As Paul was later to say, 'We have peace through the blood of the cross'. We have often spoken of Christ stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee, in the days of His flesh, when the winds and the waves obeyed His voice. But it is the nail-pierced hands, and they alone, that can quell the storm sin has stirred. No other power can ever bring true and lasting peace to the souls of men. Little wonder that the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Is this what happens to us on our Sundays?