Spirit-inspired Forgiveness

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
- John 20:21-23
 
On that first Easter Sunday, Jesus both comforted and challenged his disciples.
 
He comforted them in their sorrow and fear, helping them move toward peace and joy (as we’ve seen earlier this week). And, for some of us, it can be a huge challenge to receive comfort from Jesus. Our sorrow and our fear become so tightly linked to our identity, we need Jesus’ help to pry our hands open and let them go.
 
Others of us only want comfort from Jesus. We treat Jesus like Prozac (one of the most helpful medicines ever invented!), but nothing more. When he adds challenge to comfort, we recoil.
 
But saying “Yes” to Jesus’ challenges is our best path to peace and joy.
 
In today’s passage, Jesus says he’s sending his people out. He’s sending them in the same way the Father sent him. He says that, but he doesn’t explain what that means! What does it look like to be sent by Jesus?
 
The next beat of the story gives a pair of surprising answers to that question. First, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit onto his disciples. Then, he makes this statement about forgiveness.
 
Throughout the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was given to people embarking on or in the midst of a special work. Kings and prophets and artists and warriors each received the Spirit to empower them. Receiving the Holy Spirit was a special privilege for extraordinary times. The Spirit’s presence enables people to do what they ordinarily couldn’t do on their own.
 
Jesus sends his people and also goes with them by his Spirit.
 
And then there’s this statement about forgiveness. Jesus gives his people what seems to be at first blush an astounding responsibility. Our decisions about forgiveness actually matter in the big scheme of things in a way that’s beyond our comprehension.
 
Spirit-inspired forgiveness is what Jesus’ sent-ones are all about: the disciples, those to whom they told the story of Jesus, and those of us who continue to walk with Jesus today.
 
This Easter, how is God empowering you to join his mission to offer forgiveness to everyone who needs it?

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