Peace, Holy Spirit, Mission and Authority in the Risen Christ

John 20:19–23 (NKJV)

Christ Appears to the Disciples

¹⁹ Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, 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 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Message

At the predawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene discovered the stone had been taken away from the tomb (John 20:1), and the resurrected Jesus met her and spoke to her (John 20:14-17). She told the disciples this (John 20:18).

On that evening, Jesus came to His disciples (19^a). They were afraid of the Jews (19^b). Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you.” (19^c)

Earlier, Jesus had foreseen that they would be afraid, so He had already given them His peace (John 14:27). Jesus reaffirmed the peace He had already given them in John 14:27.

The disciples saw His scars from the crucifixion and could confirm that the person standing before them was indeed Jesus and that He was resurrected from the dead. So, they were glad (20).

Jesus give them ‘peace’ again and send them to the world, just as the Father has sent Him (21).

Then, He breathed the Holy Spirit on them (22). The Holy Spirit empowers them to be witnesses to Jesus (Acts 1:8). Jesus gave the authority to forgive or retain sins of any (23).