Peace Be With You

What does "Peace be with you" (John 20:19) mean?
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם (shalom aleichem), which in Hebrew means, "Peace be with you," remains the standard greeting in Israel, used to say both "hello" and "goodbye."

So, was Jesus simply saying "hello" when He said "Peace be with you" (John 20:19, 21) to His disciples?
They had been hiding in "fear": "the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews" (John 20:19). Jesus was offering them peace instead of fear.

Peace in what?
Knowing that Jesus is alive and is with them.

What is the source of your peace?
 

When is "the first day of the week" (John 20:19)?
The Jewish week ends on Sabbath, which runs from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, so "the first day of the week" is Sunday. This was the "evening" (John 20:19) of still the day of Jesus' resurrection.

What else did Jesus say to His disciples during this evening?
Luke 24:33-47 provides more details, and starts with the two who met Jesus on the Road to Emmaus: 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. 36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence. 44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Why didn't Jesus appear to the eleven disciples first?
Even after being prepped by five different people (see Mary Magdalene and Road to Emmaus), "they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit" (Luke 24:37) when Jesus appeared to them, so it may have been too much of a shock for them if He had appeared to them first.

Why did Jesus ask about food and then eat the fish and honeycomb?
To prove that they weren’t seeing a ghost, that He had been physically resurrected. Even after seeing the puncture wounds in "His feet" (Luke 24:40), "His hands and His side" (John 20:20), if anyone had doubts after He left the room, the others could point to the "fish" (Luke 24:42) bones and remind him that someone physical had eaten the flesh that had been on those bones.

What is Jesus telling them in Luke 24:44 and Luke 24:46?
That everything happened according to plan and as foretold throughout the Old Testament.

What finally enabled them to understand?
Jesus opening their understanding: "And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).

How is that different today?
It isn't. Unless Jesus opens our understanding, we cannot comprehend His truth.

What did Jesus say we are supposed to do once we comprehend?
Preach "in His name to all nations" the "repentance and remission of sins" by His sacrifice on the cross (Luke 24:47).

Do you?