HE IS RISEN! THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

John 20: 21-23

Then said JESUS to them again, "Peace be unto you; as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you". And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit; whosoever's sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever's sins ye retain, they are retained".

JESUS greets His Disciples - this group of faithful followers - with the words of action and the power to act. He says: Peace; go forth, "receive ye the Holy Spirit", remit and retain sin.

While the Disciples were bound by fear, they could not act as the Father's agents of mercy. They were thinking about themselves and their own safety, not the needs of others. So, JESUS speaks to that anxiety with the powerful word, "Peace be unto you". JESUS defeated the storm of fear in each one, with very few words. JESUS says to us all, "Peace be with you".

When the Peace of Christ resides in us, then we are His witnesses in the World, so JESUS says next, "As My Father hath sent me, even so send I you". Leave your comfort zone and launch out into the deep sea of this world. You have a lot of healing work to do, but first you have to receive power to do it.

JESUS then breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. This was a preparation for the full endowment of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. JESUS never sends us out without the power to accomplish the task He has given us.

JESUS, alone forgives sin, however, He gives to His Disciples the power to remit sin or unbind sin. Matthew 18:18 says: Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Many people are bound by unforgiveness in matters that strangle a life with chains. The commission and the power of JESUS is given to unbind the chains that hold the people of GOD in bondage.

JESUS BEGAN WITH THE DISCIPLES AND NOW HE SAYS TO US: PEACE BE WITH YOU