Now Jesus appears to His disciples. They were in fear of what the Jewish leaders might do to them, now that their leader "was gone". So they were behind locked doors, seeking to protect themselves. This did not stop Jesus breaking into their lives. Often when we are facing difficult circumstances we can lock ourselves away, seeking to protect ourselves. Or we can see people we love facing difficult situations, we know that Jesus could help them, but they seem to have shut themselves off from all help. We should be encouraged that Jesus can break through any walls we, or anyone else, puts up, and continue to pray fervently.
Jesus showed them His sides, confirming that He was indeed the same Jesus they had earlier seen die on the cross. The disciples were overjoyed. Jesus then reiterated His command, "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you". Then he breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit." This has presented some problems in terms of relationship to Pentecost which would happen some 7 weeks later. Some have seen it as another Pentecost. This is not consistent with the actual Pentecost, and there was no step change in the disciples behaviour (the true sign of someone receiving the Holy Spirit is change). Others have seen it as a kind of partial receiving of the Spirit, to be fully consumated later. This is unlikely. It treats the Holy Spirit as a force, or a dose of "christian medicine", the Holy Spirit is a person and we cannot receive a "bit" of Him. The most likely explanation is that this is a symbolic or prophetic act poiting towards what would happen seven weeks later.
Verse 23 also causes problems. It seems as though it could be read as meaning we decide whi gets forgiven and who does not. This is at odds with most of the rest of Scripture, so it is right to reject this interpretation. The Greek is actually in the passive, and reads "those whose sins you forgive, have already been forgiven .." This is then taken as meaning the phrase refers to the preaching of the gospel, if people respond they receive God's forgiveness, if they reject it they do not. Now this is true, and seems to be the best way to read it for the time being. However, I must admit I am always dissatisfied when there is verse or passage, and we give it an interpretation that fits in with everything else we know to be true, but there is a nagging feeling that this particular verse must be saying something more as well. There msut be something we are missing.
Jesus showed them His sides, confirming that He was indeed the same Jesus they had earlier seen die on the cross. The disciples were overjoyed. Jesus then reiterated His command, "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you". Then he breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit." This has presented some problems in terms of relationship to Pentecost which would happen some 7 weeks later. Some have seen it as another Pentecost. This is not consistent with the actual Pentecost, and there was no step change in the disciples behaviour (the true sign of someone receiving the Holy Spirit is change). Others have seen it as a kind of partial receiving of the Spirit, to be fully consumated later. This is unlikely. It treats the Holy Spirit as a force, or a dose of "christian medicine", the Holy Spirit is a person and we cannot receive a "bit" of Him. The most likely explanation is that this is a symbolic or prophetic act poiting towards what would happen seven weeks later.
Verse 23 also causes problems. It seems as though it could be read as meaning we decide whi gets forgiven and who does not. This is at odds with most of the rest of Scripture, so it is right to reject this interpretation. The Greek is actually in the passive, and reads "those whose sins you forgive, have already been forgiven .." This is then taken as meaning the phrase refers to the preaching of the gospel, if people respond they receive God's forgiveness, if they reject it they do not. Now this is true, and seems to be the best way to read it for the time being. However, I must admit I am always dissatisfied when there is verse or passage, and we give it an interpretation that fits in with everything else we know to be true, but there is a nagging feeling that this particular verse must be saying something more as well. There msut be something we are missing.
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