With Dale Ratzlaff
John 20:19-23
So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
The first verse of our study is loaded with information.
It was evening
Luke records the same event as does John and gives additional material. He records the experience of Cleopas and another un-named disciple who walked to Emmaus that very day (of the resurrection) and were joined by Jesus who was unrecognized by them until He broke the bread at their house. They rushed back to Jerusalem to the place where the other eleven disciples were gathered. (Lk 24:18). John records that “it was evening” which, according to Jewish time would be Monday.
On that day
This statement unmistakably connects the day of the resurrection—that special day—to this evening meeting.
The first day of the week
Some have argued that this is evidence of a Saturday resurrection (those who are not familiar with the Greek usage of “Sabbaths” as referring to the week). For example, Young’s literal translation renders this verse as follows: “It being, therefore, evening, on that day, the first of the sabbaths, [τῇ μιᾷ σαββάτων]” This usage stands for the first day of the week, as all major translations attest. (See “Sabbath(s) and Sunday” for an extensive discussion of this usage.) John states that it was “the first day of the week” based upon Roman time which was used when he wrote his Gospel.
PerhapsJohn is so specific because the church had selected Sunday as its regular day of worship [when John wrote his Gospel]. But, even apart from this consideration, the specification of the day is of importance ( R.C.H. Lenski, Commentary of the New Testament, John, p. 1364).
When the doors were shut where the disciples were
John records that there was more than one door where the eleven disciples, plus the two that Luke mentions, were assembled. Doubtless, not only were these doors shut, they were locked.
For fear of the Jews
The Jewish leaders had threatened to expel from their synagogue anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah. It is clear that this “first-day meeting” was not a celebration of the resurrection, but a gathering of the disciples, fearing for their own lives, to discuss the unbelievable events of the day which some of them had reported.
Jesus came and stood in their midst
There has been much speculation how Jesus was able to enter the room where the disciples were behind at least two locked doors. All we can and do know is that He did. If Jesus had the authority and power to lay His life down and take it up again—the greatest of all miracles. Then we should accept the recorded eyewitness accounts that the Risen Christ appeared behind two locked doors—the lessor miracle.
And said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Not only were the disciples afraid of the Jews, but they doubtless had much residual guilt for their shameless acts during the arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Peter had denied the Lord three times. The other disciples fled when Jesus was arrested. All their claims of loyalty to Jesus melted away when they felt their own lives might be threatened. Luke states that Jesus appeared shortly after the two disciples from Emmaus joined the others. We can only imagine what it would be like to see a person suddenly appear.
But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit (Lk. 24:37).
Jesus’ first words to the assembled disciples were, “Peace be with you.” This statement was a common greeting of the day. However, from the lips of Jesus on this memorable day, they meant much more. He could give the much-needed peace to these fearful, guilty, and startled disciples. Just a few days before Jesus had spoken of this peace.
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 (Jn. 14:27).
Jesus does not give peace the way the world does. The world cries peace and safety when all hell is ready to break loose. Jesus gives us “His peace.” He does not give us His peace and then take it back again. He “leaves” His peace with us. While it is the peace of Jesus, nevertheless, this peace is left for us to receive. We are not to let our heart be troubled. We are not to allow our heart to be fearful. We can only do this as Jesus bestows His peace on us. And, praise God, He has done, and continues to do, just that.
20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Here is additional evidence for us to build an intelligent faith. We have the empty tomb. We have the word of the angels. “He is risen, He is not here.” We have the witness of Mary Magdalene, and Cleopas and the other disciple who saw Jesus in Emmaus. Now, miraculously Jesus suddenly stands in their midst and shows these men His nail-scarred hands and His pierced side which recently poured forth blood and water. The proclamation of peace and the physical evidence they saw with their own eyes was enough to completely change their attitude of mind and emotion. One minute they were filled with fear and guilt. The next the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
Lest the disciples forget that the peace Jesus gives remains. He repeats it. Then He gives them the commission to take the good news of the Resurrected Christ to the world.
Now, as Jesus has brought to its consummation the task that He came to accomplish, the task that the Father had laid upon Him, He sends His followers into the world. The charge is given added solemnity from being linked thus to the mission of the Son. Their mission proceeds from His. It is only because He has accomplished it, that they are sent into the world. There is an emphasis on the link between His mission and theirs ( Leon Morris, The Gospel of John, p. 845,6).
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
The best Greek manuscripts do not have Jesus breathing “on them,” instead, just “expelling a deep breath” ( Ibid. p. 846.) The breathing of Jesus indicates that the Spirit comes from Him. We note the connection between giving the disciples the gospel commission and the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. Both of these are real, but also preliminary. Not yet did the disciples receive the power demonstrated at Pentecost. They were still trying to comprehend all that was transpiring.
23 “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
Before we can understand this verse, we must see it in the broader context of John’s Gospel.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (Jn. 3:16).
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself (Jn. 12:32).
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (Jn. 19:30).
We have multiple witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus has just given them the gospel commission. With the commission, Jesus has given them the Holy Spirit to empower them to proclaim the gospel.
Now, He tells the disciples: “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
In fact, these two functions form the two supreme acts for which the disciples are sent and equipped. Through the disciples as his church on earth Jesus wants the remission of sins dispensed to sinners, excluding only those who refuse remission ( Lenski, p. 1375).
It should be borne in mind that, according to the best text, the verbs “are forgiven” and “are retained” are in the perfect tense. The meaning of this is that the Spirit-filled church can pronounce with authority that the sins of such-and-such men have been forgiven or have been retained. If the church is really acting under the leadership of the Spirit it will be found that her pronouncements on this matter do reveal what has already been determined in heaven (My emphasis) ( Morris, p. 849).
Further, it ought not to be overlooked that the words for “whose” are plural. It is not the sins of whatever man, but the sins of whatever men [or women], of which this verse speaks. Jesus is not speaking of individuals, but of classes. He is saying that the Spirit-filled church has the authority to declare which are the sins that are forgiven and which are the sins that are retained ( Ibid.)
When Christians proclaim the true gospel, they are also commissioned to proclaim forgiveness to those who receive the gospel. Over and over again throughout the Gospel of John, eternal life is presented as a present reality to those who believe.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life (Jn. 5:24).
Conversely, those who reject Christ their sin “remains” (see Jn. 9:41).
We should never see ourselves as some Catholic Priests who claim to offer personal forgiveness based upon their own authority. On the other hand, we should not retreat from giving the assurance of eternal life to those who genuinely believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. Like Paul, we can say that this is the Gospel “by which also you are saved” (1 Cor. 15:2).
Application
- We know for certain that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week. This was not a Sabbath resurrection.
- We have additional evidence upon which to build an intelligent faith.
- Jesus appeared behind at least two locked doors.
- Jesus showed the assembled disciples his nail-pierced hands and riven side.
- Jesus pronounced that peace would be with the disciples. Because we are believers, we have the same peace as a gift of Christ through the Gospel. Later, Paul will build on this theme. He speaks of peace with God and the peace of God.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1).
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).
- We are included in the gospel commission, and this ought to be a theme of our contemplation and activity.
- As true believers, we have received the Holy Spirit.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:14-16).
- We have the privilege and responsibility to not only proclaim the gospel of grace in Christ, but to give the assurance of salvation to those who believe.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the additional evidence upon which I can build an intelligent faith. May I accept and believe the facts of the resurrection, even if I cannot explain just how things happened. Thank you for the peace you have given me. Thank you for the indwelling Holy Spirit. May I always follow His leading. Give me wisdom in proclaiming the gospel and in giving the assurance of eternal life to those who receive it.
In Jesus name.
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