John 20

Disciples commissioned

19 Then at evening on that first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and He says to them, "Peace to you!" 20 And upon saying this He showed them His hands and His side. Well, the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord! 21 So Jesus said to them again: "Peace to you!*This is what He said "again", having already said it (verse 19). Just as the Father sent me, I also send you."*This is tremendous! In my own experience (as a missionary, son of missionaries), I have seldom heard a missionary challenge based on John 20:21. The champion is Matthew 28:19-20, ‘the great commission’, followed by Mark 16:15 and perhaps Acts 1:8; but John 20:21? "Just as… so also"—Jesus is sending us just like the Father sent Him. So how did They do it? The Father determined and the Son obeyed: "Behold, I have come to do your will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7). And what was that will? To destroy Satan (Hebrews 2:14) and undo his works (1 John 3:8). Since Jesus did indeed defeat Satan (Colossians 2:15, Ephesians 1:20-21, etc.) what is left for us is the undoing of his works. For more on this subject see my article, "Biblical Spiritual Warfare", available from my site, www.prunch.org. 22 Upon saying this He breathed on them and said: "Receive Holy Spirit!*There is no definite article with "Holy Spirit" and I hesitate to add it. Perhaps we should try thinking of ‘Holy Spirit’ as a proper name. 23 To whomever you forgive the sins,*This is a literal rendering, but I hesitate to change it. The primary reference is presumably to the sins of that person, but it is sometimes necessary to pronounce forgiveness for sins of past generations (see 2 Samuel 21:1-14). they are forgiven to them; to whomever you retain, they have been retained."*That is what the Text says, "have been". The idea seems to be that sins are already retained (as soon as a sin is committed it is on the account); Jesus gives them the prerogative to change that situation, undoing the retaining, as it were. Presumably the forgiving and retaining have to do with the consequences of the sin in this life (not for salvation). I take it that the undoing of Satan’s works (1 John 3:8) must reverse consequences (to the extent that this may be possible). Since Satan is involved in all sin, indirectly at least (or so I imagine), I conclude that verse 23 here falls within the competence of anyone who has the Holy Spirit.