Jesus Appears To His Disciples
JESUS APPEARS TO HIS DISCIPLES
JOHN 20:19-23
Jesus wanted his disciples to know both the fact of his physical resurrection and the experience of peace and joy!
The disciples have now heard of the empty tomb, which some of them at least have seen for themselves. They have also heard of the appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene. But they have not yet met the risen Lord for themselves. To them the experience of the Easter faith comes not at the tomb nor in the garden but in a room where doors are shut through fear of the Jews.
Jesus passes through closed doors and greets them with a message of peace, now filled with new and wonderful meaning for them (cf. 14:27). The evidence that he really is Jesus has to come not only from his words but also from his body. The marks of crucifixion are displayed to them. No wonder the disciples were filled with joy (16:20-22). Jesus then repeats his word of peace and commissions them for mission in his name. He breathes on them and imparts the Holy Spirit to them. Their mission and the gift of the Holy Spirit through which alone they could accomplish it (cf. Acts 1:8) are connected with the forgiveness and the retention of sins.
Notes 20:19: it is important to emphasize that this appearance to the representative body of the disciples was on the first day of the week, the first day of the new era. For fear of the Jews, cf. 7:13; 19:38. The emphasis here seems to be more on the power of Jesus in his “spiritual body” to pass through closed doors and yet be recognized, than on the disciples’ fear. But we can see how frightened men were transformed in preparation for their fearless mission to the world. It is not certain whether only the Twelve (minus Thomas and Judas) were in the room. If this is so, then they are there as representatives of the church as a whole. 20:21: the mission of the disciples from the Son is derived from and parallel to the mission of the Son from the Father (cf. 17:18). 20:22: this is sometimes referred to as the “Johannine Pentecost.” Jesus can impart the indwelling Holy Spirit as soon as he has risen, though the full outward manifestation of the gift of the Spirit to the church must wait until the appearances are over. There is here a new creation (cf. Genesis 2:7). The Second Adam is a lifegiving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). 20:23: the forgiveness or retention of sins is the inevitable result of men’s reaction to the gospel. What happened in his ministry (9:39-41) will happen in them through the Holy Spirit (cf. 16:8-11).