John
20:19-23
The
disciples may have dreaded the thought of seeing Jesus after having abandoned
him. Since the crucifixion, they had locked themselves away in the Upper Room.
Then Jesus appeared. I imagine they held their breath, ready for the
well-deserved reproach they knew was coming.
“Peace
be with you.” … a simple phrase—both a common greeting and a blessing. Jesus
again flips some tables by NOT reacting as his disciples expect. And, just to
make sure, he says it twice: “Peace be with you.” As Jesus speaks to his
disciples in Scripture, we can be sure that he is speaking to us today, so when
we have disappointed our Lord, Jesus speaks the same to us—“Peace be with you”
…blessing. This is already good news!
Sent
Out – The second time
Jesus says, “Peace be with you,” Jesus also commissions the disciples: “…As the
Father has sent me, I am sending you.” First Century and 21st
Century disciples are to continue what Jesus began. We continue Jesus’ work of
redemption and reconciliation, the work that God began in Abraham of redeeming
and reconciling a world broken by sin. Paul confirms that God “who reconciled
us to himself through Christ…gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2
Corinthians 5:18) We have the charge of being ambassadors of Christ helping
others to see and know God in a world where God is too often misrepresented by public
voices.
Breath
of Life – As the disciples
process this commission, Jesus breathes on them. The most common word in Greek
for breath is pneuma…but, here the word is different. John uses ἐνεφύσησεν
(enephysēsen)—the only time this word is used in the New Testament, but
not the only time this word appears in Scripture. In the commonly used
Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament) we find this word used in
some significant passages:
Genesis
2:7: “Then the Lord God formed [Adam] from the dust of the
ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and
[Adam] became a living being.” Breathed the breath of life.
Ezekiel
37 (Valley of Dry Bones): “9 Then [the LORD]said to me,
‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, “This is
what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four
winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”’ 10 So
I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to
life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.” Again…God breathes life into what
is not yet alive.
Jesus
breathes life into his disciples, a preview of Pentecost…and Jesus breathes
life into us today.
Forgiveness
– First, “Forgive and
forget” is physiologically impossible unless we have a severe head injury. So, what is forgiveness? Forgiveness is a
decision to live as if a wrong did not occur, a decision to not hold a wrong
against someone. Doing the work of Jesus—reconciliation—is impossible without
forgiveness. God forgives us our sins, and we have the privilege of declaring
God’s forgiveness to other. Also, we have the duty to forgive one another just
as we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against
us.” We are to forgive…and proclaim God’s forgiveness. More good news today:
You are forgiven!
Full Circle – The disciples all fell apart at the arrest of Jesus and locked themselves away in the Upper Room out of fear. They had failed Jesus and themselves. How does Jesus respond to them? He blesses them. “Peace be with you.” Forgiveness…reconciliation…their fear is gone. What Jesus does in the Upper Room, God longs to do for us, for everyone. God does this for us in Christ Jesus: Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Fear gone. And, then God gives us new life by the Spirit of Jesus to carry out the redeeming, reconciling work of Jesus. This is God’s good news for us today. Amen.
Sunday, April 12, 2026
New Beginnings – Disciples
Watch/Listen: HERE
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