The big surprise last week was Cathy. She wasn’t supposed to be back yet, so we were delighted when she came through the door. We had an extended time of prayer to begin the service. It is always good to be sensitive to the leading of the holy Spirit and be willing to move with Him in a different direction than we might have planned.

Our study of John continues with Chapter 20, verses 19-23. This is the first time that Jesus appears to the majority of the disciples after His resurrection. A few saw him earlier, and we know that John believed as soon as he saw the empty graved clothes arranged as if the body had still been in them in the tomb. However, most of them could not quite bring themselves to believe it had really happened, even though He had told them it would. Even after he appeared among them, they thought they were seeing a ghost. In their defense, He did appear in the room with them where all the doors and windows were shut.

The first thing He said to them was, “Peace be with you.” It was a common greeting of that time, but coming from Jesus, it had a much greater significance than a mere hello. He said it again after finally convincing them that it was really Him, then personally imparted the Holy Spirit to them and gave them their commission. Remember how He said to them after the Passover meal, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27) He had just been speaking of the Holy Spirit when He said this.

Verse 23 may leave us with questions. Only God can forgive sins. Is He, in the person of Jesus, giving that power to the disciples? Did it pass from then to their disciples and so on through history? Though there does seem to be some indication that one having spiritual authority may have some say over consequences and we have all been instructed that we must forgive, no man has that kind of power over another’s soul.

There are differing views about what Jesus is saying here, but there are some things we can know for certain. If no one tells the unbeliever the truth, how can they find forgiveness? Their sins have been retained. If we present the truth, we have the authority to explain what it means. If you believe, your sins are forgiven. If you do not, your sins are not forgiven, and you face judgment.