Sabbath, April 22, 2006
John 20:19-23
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them 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. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending 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 withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (ESV)
by Dale E. Rood
Here is another version of Jesus’ commissioning of his disciples to be his witnesses (See yesterday’s reading in Luke). Again the news that Jesus is alive seems too good to be true, but as the reality of it soaks in, they are overjoyed (v. 20). The commission is here:“I am sending you to continue my work” (v. 21, my paraphrase). The empowerment of the Holy Spirit (v. 22), which is also in Luke, is an ingredient for the work which is absolutely necessary. We are called to do a supernatural work. For that we need supernatural power.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
