S – 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.” 

John 20:21–23 ESV

O – Commentary:

20:21 I am sending you: God had sent Jesus into the world to establish his Kingdom, and now Jesus was sending his disciples to carry on his mission. Christ’s emissaries carry the truth of Jesus’ words to the world (cp. 17:18).

20:22 Jesus commissioned the disciples and then empowered them with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had not been given previously because Jesus had not yet been glorified (7:39). The glorified Jesus, resplendent in his resurrected body, poured the Spirit on his followers. This gift fulfilled many promises that the Spirit would be sent (14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 13). It foreshadows the arrival of the Spirit’s empowering presence at Pentecost (Acts 1:4–5; 2:1–47).

20:23 If you forgive anyone’s sins: The ongoing work of Christ’s followers parallels the work of Christ. Christ’s followers do not distribute and withdraw God’s forgiveness on a whim, but they follow Jesus’ prompting through the Spirit (15:5), just as Jesus obeyed his Father (14:31).

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Jn 20:21–23.

A – This is Jesus first appearance to the disciples.  Since it is his first time with them since receiving his glorified body, it is interesting to note the things he says to them.  First, he gives them peace (twice) – joining quietness and oneness together instead of the fear they lived in the last week.  Second, he commission them as sent leaders of his will.  Similar to being sent out in twos during his lifetime ministry. Now, they going to share his message.  Third, they received the Holy Spirit – a promised and necessary part of their ministry and ongoing relationship with God.  Finally, they can now forgive sins (all believers can now) because Jesus’ death and resurrection empowers us to do so.

R – Heavenly Father, we glorify your name and character!  You are the one, true God.  You empower us through our relationship with you to be your ambassadors of your message.  We invite the Holy Spirit to guide, lead and reveal to us the conversations and environments to step into.  Finally, give us the heart of forgiveness to others that we may show your heart of love.