Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Human nature wants to understand every situation. The flesh finds comfort in knowing exactly what happened and what to do next. However, you will not always understand what is happening, especially when it comes to spiritual things. Only God understands spiritual things, and He chooses when to reveal them. God knows whether or not you are ready for the truth. Jesus told the disciples that He was go-ing somewhere they could not go but that He would send His Spirit. This would be best for them. While they understood the words, they had no past experience or understanding of exactly what was going to take place. They simply knew that Jesus was crucified.

Imagine the thoughts of the disciples in these moments after Jesus was crucified and buried. They had seen the empty grave but had yet to see a resurrected Jesus. Bewilderment and sadness must have gripped their thinking. After only a few hours since Peter and John had seen the empty tomb, the disciples hid for fear of the Jews. They knew if Jesus could be crucified, that they certainly were not exempt from the Jews’ hatred. The Jews proved that they would stop at nothing to kill what Jesus taught. But even though they crucified Him, He was not dead.

Jesus spent three years with the disciples teaching and preparing them for what was to come. The promise of the Spirit was about to be fulfilled. Many in the church want an assignment, but they do not want God to make them a new creation. The first calling that God places on every believer is a call to relationship. We see this in the first chapters of John when Jesus calls the twelve to a relationship with Him. Over the next three years, they walked with Him and learned from Him. Before Jesus sent the disciples, He first took the time to make them into disciples through building relationships with them.

As they were waiting for Him, Jesus appeared in their presence and said, “Peace be with you.” Just what did Jesus have in mind when He offered peace? In the New Testa-ment, being at peace does not just mean an absence of war, but a heart condition of safety and rest. The disciples needed personal peace within, not a circumstantial peace with the Jews.

Jesus had taught them in John 14:1 to “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” He went on to say to them, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). This was internal peace. He had already taught them that they would be persecuted so He was offering an internal peace for them to withstand outward persecution. Jesus leaving this peace reveals the kindness of His Heart in knowing exactly what His disciples needed.

Jesus assured His disciples of His finished work of salvation. He showed them His hands and side. Though they were weak, He did not scold them but assured them that He was alive and ready to guide them. Surely they remembered that He would send His Spirit to them to guide, comfort, and teach them. He said again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” This confidence that Jesus instilled in them showed them that as they believed in Him, He also believed in them. He had just prayed for them in John 17, and Jesus was about to leave this earth and entrust His work to this group of men. What an honor and a privilege to serve Jesus in this way.

When Jesus said this “He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” How long does it take for Jesus to offer peace? Just one breath! In Genesis 2:7, God breathed life into Adam. Here, Jesus breathed upon His disciples and imparted His Spirit to them. Luke said, “And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52). Joy is the result of true belief in Jesus. Joy drives fear away. The Spirit’s breath enabled them to fulfill their mission.

The calling of Jesus on your life qualifies you to do God’s Work. If He sends you, He will equip you. When Jesus breathed on His dis-ciples, He equipped them. Just as God breathed into Adam and made Adam a living soul, Jesus breathed on the disciples and empowered them by His Spirit to live a new life.

In today’s world, many in ministry do not endure and end up leav-ing the ministry. Many times they chose ministry as a vocation instead of receiving a call from God. When God calls someone into minis-try, it is nearly impossible to leave it. The calling drives the person. Without being equipped by Jesus with the Holy Spirit, one will find ministry unbearable. However, quitting is not an option to the called.

The last thing Jesus says is, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

We do not forgive the sins, but we share the message of forgiveness (salvation) when we are called and equipped. Only Jesus can save and forgive people of their sins. What He allowed here was the responsi-bility to believers to share the truth with all. When God calls and sends you, the calling will be in line with the life of Christ. This means that you will share what Christ shares. Christ came to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), and His main message was repen-tance for the remission of sin. Therefore, this will be your message no matter which area of ministry you may find yourself.

When Jesus grants you forgiveness and the Holy Spirit becomes alive in your heart and mind, you will share that with everyone, even those who revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you. If those you witness to deny Jesus’ forgiveness, they forfeit the best gift of all, the gift of the Holy Spirit. God forgiving you of your sins is the kindest act of Love.

 

From John: True Belief Brings Joy (Book 3) by Alison Veazey and Kerry Skinner.