#460 The Breath of Forgiveness
The disciples were in hiding, with doors shut because they feared the Jews. Suddenly Jesus appeared in their midst.
“Peace be with you,” he said with a radiant smile.
He stretched out his hands which bore the marks of the nails. He showed them his wounded side. He spoke again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” Then he breathed on them.
“Receive the holy spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” John 20:19-23
I have wondered what the purpose of this mysterious act could be. Was Jesus equipping them for something between this time and the time of Pentecost when they would receive the holy Spirit with more than his breathe, but with “a violent, rushing wind”? Acts 2:1-2
Here is a possible answer. (In addition to other thoughts on the subject.) When Jesus breathed the holy Spirit on his followers perhaps he was giving them insight into true forgiveness, and insight into when forgiveness is withheld. They had all gone through times of doubting. They all forsook him and fled. Thomas would not believe until Jesus invited him to touch the wounds on his hands and to press his hand into his wounded side. John 20:26-29 Simon Peter, who had denied him three times, and then wept bitterly, had a great burden of guilt to deal with. Luke 22:61-62 Perhaps as the appearances of Christ continued, this miraculous insight into forgiveness gave these disciples the ability to see that behind each revealing appearance of Christ was love Perhaps this power and influence of the holy Spirit helped them forgive themselves and each other, despite their failures, from that point on and until the fuller pouring out of the spirit at Pentecost.
Oh how he wants us to understand the depth of forgiveness that is ours, and to exercise that forgiveness toward one another.
“Just as my Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love.” John 15:9
“This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 “
“…Thou didst send me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love me.” John 17:23
The disciples were in hiding, with doors shut because they feared the Jews. Suddenly Jesus appeared in their midst.
“Peace be with you,” he said with a radiant smile.
He stretched out his hands which bore the marks of the nails. He showed them his wounded side. He spoke again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” Then he breathed on them.
“Receive the holy spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” John 20:19-23
I have wondered what the purpose of this mysterious act could be. Was Jesus equipping them for something between this time and the time of Pentecost when they would receive the holy Spirit with more than his breathe, but with “a violent, rushing wind”? Acts 2:1-2
Here is a possible answer. (In addition to other thoughts on the subject.) When Jesus breathed the holy Spirit on his followers perhaps he was giving them insight into true forgiveness, and insight into when forgiveness is withheld. They had all gone through times of doubting. They all forsook him and fled. Thomas would not believe until Jesus invited him to touch the wounds on his hands and to press his hand into his wounded side. John 20:26-29 Simon Peter, who had denied him three times, and then wept bitterly, had a great burden of guilt to deal with. Luke 22:61-62 Perhaps as the appearances of Christ continued, this miraculous insight into forgiveness gave these disciples the ability to see that behind each revealing appearance of Christ was love Perhaps this power and influence of the holy Spirit helped them forgive themselves and each other, despite their failures, from that point on and until the fuller pouring out of the spirit at Pentecost.
Oh how he wants us to understand the depth of forgiveness that is ours, and to exercise that forgiveness toward one another.
“Just as my Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love.” John 15:9
“This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 “
“…Thou didst send me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love me.” John 17:23
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