19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
There is just so much here! The fear behind the locked doors that turns to peace as soon as Jesus appears, the sending, the spirit! The disciples are locked away, afraid they might be next! They fear the Jewish and Roman Authority, not simply the Jews, remember they are Jews themselves. But then Jesus appears to them and suddenly seeing with their own eyes, they believed. Then Jesus sends them. I love that idea of sending. Usually, we think of Jesus sending them out to share the good news but I love that it specifically says he sends them out to forgive! As Christians, we are all ‘sent’ people, sent out to reconcile the world, that may require some repentance on our part too because really, what do we really accomplish by holding on to grudges? We are sent people to go out into the world in forgiveness, offering forgiveness and asking for it too.
Gracious, Holy God,
Forgive our unbelief, forgive our holding on to past hurts. Help us to answer the call to go and share the good news of forgiveness. Amen.
If you find this devotion to be a blessing, please share it with a friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment