The Breath
John 20:19-23
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.”
In His farewell words on Thursday evening, Jesus had told them that He would see them again:
16 A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me” [John 16:16].
And
22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you [John 16:22].
Now, the resurrected Jesus, who, as it were, lives now according to heavenly rules, and so can come and go as He pleases, appears to them to commission them.
21b “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” [John 20:21b].
As he told Pontius Pilate, Jesus was sent from the Father to bear witness to the truth:
37b For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth [John 18:37b].
Now, the disciples are sent with the same mission—to testify to the truth of the love of God and to the life for all who believe in Jesus. What is astounding is that He is sending as His witnesses the very men who abandoned Him!
He then breathes on the disciples. In Greek (and in Hebrew) the same word means breath and wind and spirit. When Jesus breathes on them here, He proves that He is alive and breathing, but He also empowers them with the Holy Spirit.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” [John 20:22].
The last time God has breathed in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 2 and the creation of Adam. Now, for the second time God is said to breathe. The Spirit, the Advocate, the Helper, will enable the disciples to carry on the ministry of Jesus.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” [John 20:23].
In other words, they are to represent Jesus and preach that forgiveness is available for all who repent, turn from their sin, and believe in Jesus.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
What a heavy responsibility Jesus gives to His church—to represent Him to the world.