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In my opinion, these verses mark the climax of the book of John. Fear is the primary emotion in the scene: the disciples are huddled together, terrified that the Jews will find them and they will share the same fate as Christ. Their terror is justified: the Disciples had recently witnessed the brutal crucifixion of the person that they cared for and believed in. They must have been emotionally conflicted with feelings of sadness, doubt, fear, and guilt. What should they do?At that moment, Christ appears and says: "Peace be unto you." I can imagine there were no more beautiful words that the disciples could have heard. Their fears must have been immediately alleviated, and the doubts that they previously held must have been quelled.This verse has a different meaning for me: when I put myself in the shoes of the Disciples, I am filled with feelings of anger, hate, sadness, guilt, and selfishness in wanting to protect myself. I would be so bitter and filled with doubt about all that I had learned from Jesus while harboring a deep hatred for the Jews. Jesus comes back to send me a message: "Peace be unto you."Calm your heart. Release your anger. Let peace rule your heart. Do not hold onto the sins of your abusers and hold hate in your heart. Jesus grants you peace in your most troubled moments. He grants the Jews, who torments and tortured him up until his death, peace. Our sins were forgiven through Jesus, but do not forget that the Jews’ sins were also forgiven. Do not doubt the love of God. Be faithful to Him and let peace be unto you.Free yourself from the fear, doubt, and hate that you may hold in your heart. This is not as Jesus would want us to live! He wants to grant us peace, even when we most feel the opposite. He lived and died so that we may live. Honor his life by granting peace to yourself and to those around you. God is good. Thanks be to God. Amen.