Because He Lives Peace is Available

John 20:19–23 NKJV

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

I. A Way of Peace

John 20:19 NKJV

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Explain the text: Verse 19 says “then” marking succession in time. It was the same day in the evening time and also the first day of the week. The disciples were gathered together. Because the disciples were afraid, they had the doors shut to the room.

The text does not spell out the This is not the first time the disciples were afraid.

Remember in Mark 4:41

Mark 4:41 NKJV

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Remember in Matthew 14:26

Matthew 14:26 NKJV

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

It is important to realize that the disciples had recently witnessed the unjust arresting of their LORD, the unjust accusations about their Lord, the unjust attack against their Lord, and the unjust anathematizing of the Lord. It is no surprise that fear, dread, terror invaded the disciples hearts. It is in the midst of this

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II. A Word of Peace

John 20:21 NKJV

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

Christ was Sent by the Father

John 4:34 (NKJV)

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

John 5:24 (NKJV)

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

John 6:63 (NKJV)

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

John 6:44 (NKJV)

44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 7:16 (NKJV)

16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

John 9:4 (NKJV)

4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

Christ sent His disciples

John 17:18 NKJV

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Ability Given

John 20:22 NKJV

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:18–19 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Matthew 28:18–20 NKJV

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 NKJV

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Authority Given

John 20:22 NKJV

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

John 20:23 NKJV

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Word Pictures in the New Testament John 20:23

The power to forgive sin belongs only to God, but Jesus claimed to have this power and right (Mark 2:5–7). What he commits to the disciples and to us is the power and privilege of giving assurance of the forgiveness of sins by God by correctly announcing the terms of forgiveness.