Thursday, May 8, 2014
John 20:21-23 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
TEACHING THE PEACE OF THE RESURRECTION
There are different ways to learn something. For example, one can learn by reading, by listening, or by doing. Which is most effective? Many would tell you that the best way to learn and become sure of a subject is actually to teach it. One who teaches on a particular topic must have a better than average knowledge of it.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them a word of peace, and showed them that He had truly risen from the dead. But then He sent them out to share this word of peace with others. He said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you ... If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven ..."
The disciples were to go out and tell others about the resurrection of Christ. In addition, they were to tell of the peace that comes through that resurrection. To those who were sorrowing over their sins they would personally apply to them the forgiveness of sins.
The disciples were sent out to use Jesus' word of peace. It would be something on their lips and in their hearts every day. And what would be the effect on them? Being that close to Jesus' gospel, the same gospel they had heard when He came and stood among them, they would also be strengthened in their own confidence. The more they shared His peace with the world, the more their own faith in Him would grow.
The same word of peace is given to us to use in the world. We have that word of Christ in our hearts and on our lips just as they did. We relieve people of the burden of their guilt too by saying, "Peace to you. You are forgiven." And as we use and teach that word ourselves, we too will be made more and more certain of Jesus' resurrection and the peace it brings to us.
