John 20:19-25 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Bible Study Theme: Jesus calls us and sends us out. He comes to us and gives us the power to become his followers.
Context: The Lectionary Gospel Reading for this week presents two different resurrection appearances which are over a week apart. Although they are connected, we’ll break them down and study the passage in 2 parts. Before you begin, you may want to take a quick look at last week’s passage to see the first appearance which took place just hours earlier than today’s reading. On that same day that Jesus appears to the disciples in the evening, Mary Magdalene had already encountered Jesus earlier in the day and proclaimed to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” It is a good assumption that Mary has given them the message that Jesus has entrusted to her: “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
However, we find the disciples cowering with fear behind closed doors. Therefore, they must not have taken Mary’s message from Jesus to heart. When “Jesus” appears, the disciples react in their typical way … you might even say they react as normal human beings who have experienced something that is mysterious, unexplainable, and more than a little crazy. In the nighttime of their fear, Jesus walks in and says, “Peace be with you.” He might just as well have said, as most ethereal biblical visitors have said … “Do not be afraid!” The word translated peace is eirene {i-ray'-nay} which means national and/or personal tranquility, absence of war, assurance, and contentment in all circumstances. With his presence, Jesus seeks to alleviate their fear and give them the gift of peace.
Consider these words of Isaiah (43:1-5, selections)
Listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior …
you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
Jesus calls and “commissions” the disciples for service as he says, “I am sending you” and then he “equips” them for service as he “breathes” on them. The word translated breathe is emphusao {em-foo-sah'-o}. The translators of the Septuagint (Greek Translation of the Bible) used this word only once before: in Genesis 2:7 (Orginial Hebrew=neshamah {nesh-aw-maw'}) when God breathed life into Adam. At the same time Jesus breathes upon them, he instructs the disciples to lambano {lam-ban'-o} which means to “take hold of” or “receive.”
There is a sense of mutuality and/or unity in this moment of giving and receiving as Jesus confers upon the disciples to ability to offer or withhold forgiveness. This does not mean that we are the arbiter (or judge) of right or wrong, but that the Christian community has the responsibility of bearing unceasing witness to the love of God in Christ. “By loving one another as Jesus loves, the faith community reveals God to the world.” If one accepts a relationship with God, sins are forgiven. If one rejects a relationship with God, forgiveness is withheld. (Gail R. O’Day, New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Vol. IX, page 848)
Going Deeper: Biblical Commentator O’Day states that in this passage, John “makes clear [that] the gift of the Spirit and the articulation of the community’s mission are intimately and inseparably tied to the resurrection and ascension of Jesus ... for John, the church’s ongoing life as a community of faith, as the people who continue Jesus’ work in the world, derives from Jesus’ Easter promises and gifts.” (O’Day, 847-848) Jesus is very clear in this passage: As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. How does this make you feel? Do you know where God is "sending" you? Do you want to know? Will you go?
Pondering: The Gospel writer called John reveals several “Easter” moments. Have you ever experienced an “Easter” moment … new life ... the presence of Christ … the “breathing” of the Spirit? How would you describe your Easter moment? Was there a sense of mutuality? What did you receive? What are you called to give? How comfortable are you with offering forgiveness to others? Have you ever had problems with forgiving yourself? What would you say to someone who was struggling with forgiveness?
Earlier in the day, Mary recognized Jesus when she heard him call her by name. In the evening the disciples recognize Jesus when they hear his voice AND see the wounds right before he “commissions” them as he says, “I am sending you.” Tradition labels Thomas as the “doubter” but he is simply asking for the proof the others have already received and taking it another step further. He wants to hear, see, and touch! Consider your faith and the journey to where you are right now ... wherever that is. How much “proof” do you need? What is the role of "doubt" in your faith journey?
Prayer: Spend some time praying for someone you know (lifting up that person’s name) who is going through a rough time by adapting and personalizing the words from Isaiah 43:1-5 (italicized above) especially for them. Sit in silence and visualize your friend sitting with Jesus … hear him speak the words of Isaiah 43 to your friend and rejoice!
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