As I continue in my journey to learn about the Holy Spirit, it has become quite apparent to me I would never have "written the script" of the Cross, the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and the beginning of the Early Church the way He did....yet I am so glad I wasn't asked to...His way is simply the best.....if I had written this, there would be angels, "storm troopers", light sabres...you name it...and the Cross?...out of the question...it would have been an old fashioned "thumpin"...Roman soldiers. Pharisees, and anyone who came against Jesus...it would have gotten real ugly.
But at some point...I would have discovered this "epic battle" that I would have devised would lead me to this conclusion: that although my intentions were sincere with a demonstration of good and fair politics, it is my heart that is still filled with selfishness, hatred, and all sorts of evil. I still had this ache within...can I ever do enough?...I need to be "Born Again".
In the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 22-23...are some words of Scripture that have been a hot topic of debate...for a long time. Depending on your translation of choice, it reads something like this: " Then Jesus repeated His greeting: "Peace to you! Just as the Father has sent Me to you, so is now the time for Me to send you!" Then, He breathed on them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit...if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven. If you don't forgive their sins...what are you to do? (some translations reads: they are not forgiven)."
Ok..."Let's get ready to ruuuuuumble!"
First, this is the second time in this meeting Jesus says to His disciples: "Peace to you!" In fact, He says this phrase a 3rd time a little later in the same chapter.
"Peace to you" was a common greeting in the days of "The Original" (the 12 disciples Christ hand-picked). The intent of making this offering of peace was like a blessing/prayer in every area of a person's life. Today we know it as the traditional Jewish greeting: "Shalom".
Now, as I think about the situation the disciples found themselves in when Jesus appeared to them...your heart has to have a little sorrow. After all, these guys were most likely in a state of confusion and their hearts broken over all the events that had transpired in the last 3 days.
Then...He arrives!
To me, it would be like not seeing someone you really love and care for...and all of a sudden...they are here! Or perhaps you have hurt someone, and have much pain within from what happened, and all you want to do is make things right...and suddenly, it happens. And what a joy it must have been to hear those words: "Peace to you!"
I honestly think the greeting Jesus gave to His disciples ( 3 different times) is an undoubted assurance that..."Hey guys...it's ok...we are all in this thing...together!"
Then, He does something....He breathes upon them and says: "Receive the Holy Spirit." Simply put, what an awesome and loving thing to do for His disciples. Again, how I take this portion of verse is that Jesus is saying: "Look, it is what it is...you didn't have the power yet...but now is your time...the next time you face the world...the results will be a whole lot different! You will now have the strength to stand-up against problems, threats, persecution, and failures."
Do I think they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit right then? No, no I don't. I think He breathed on them to give them the power from the Holy Spirit to feel the hurts in others, and the strength to introduce others to the best friend a man/woman can have: Jesus...the King of Kings. In fact, I wonder if it was at this point in their lives...the disciples were..."Born Again". I'm just sayin'....remember, they were still asking Jesus (even at this point)...if He was going to restore Israel, free them from the Roman Empire, and set up His Kingdom here on earth.
Prior to Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit upon His disciples...what had happened when He first arrived? He showed them...the Scriptures do not read they asked Him, rather it reads: "He showed them"....His scars. Why?
Honestly, I think it was to "drive home" the fact that 1) He is very much alive...He really did triumph over Death, and the work of the Cross had a real purpose 2) To let the disciples see for themselves...the ministry of "The True Messiah" can involve hardships...we live in a fallen world and not everyone is open to receiving the "The True Messiah" 3) There is purpose to each one of the disciples lives...and He chose them to begin the ministry of what we commonly refer today as "The Good News"...and His purpose in their lives will fulfill them...whether they live or die.
Now...the last part........
"...If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven. If you don't forgive their sins...what are you to do? ( some translations read: They are not forgiven).
Ok, one of the chief complaints the Jewish leadership had against Jesus was: speaking to others and saying their sins are forgiven...for by doing so He was claiming to be...God. ( They had no clue who they were messin' with)
Now, He says to His disciples after breathing upon them the Holy Spirit...that they have the power to forgive sins...in fact, if they choose not to forgive sin...then the sin is not forgiven.
What???
This is another reason why I think the disciples could have very well had a real "Born Again" experience at this meeting with Christ Jesus. Here is why: what do we do to become Born Again? We ask Christ Jesus to forgive us of our sins and invite Him into our hearts and lives...right?
I think that is what is going on here...in this verse. Some people have taken this "off the deep-end" and set themselves up as "Good Christian people" (which by my definition is an oxymoron) and made themselves judges as to what sins we have, what we need to do if found guilty, and all kind of "crap" like that (sorry..I just think that slang word describes these type of behaviors so well).
I think what Christ Jesus is saying in this verse is: "Look, when your run into someone that is truly sorry and desires to repent of sin in their lives...you now have the power to reassure them...their sins are forgiven as they give their hearts...to Me. ..just the same as...you guys (the disciples).
On the other hand, if you meet someone who thinks they have a better idea to know My Father...or worse yet...they can do it on their own....thinking all the good they try and do will outweigh the sin in their lives...then no...you cannot forgive the sin in their lives...they can only be forgiven...through Me."
Ok...enough said on a beautiful evening in the land of O-HI-O!
But at some point...I would have discovered this "epic battle" that I would have devised would lead me to this conclusion: that although my intentions were sincere with a demonstration of good and fair politics, it is my heart that is still filled with selfishness, hatred, and all sorts of evil. I still had this ache within...can I ever do enough?...I need to be "Born Again".
In the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 22-23...are some words of Scripture that have been a hot topic of debate...for a long time. Depending on your translation of choice, it reads something like this: " Then Jesus repeated His greeting: "Peace to you! Just as the Father has sent Me to you, so is now the time for Me to send you!" Then, He breathed on them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit...if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven. If you don't forgive their sins...what are you to do? (some translations reads: they are not forgiven)."
Ok..."Let's get ready to ruuuuuumble!"
First, this is the second time in this meeting Jesus says to His disciples: "Peace to you!" In fact, He says this phrase a 3rd time a little later in the same chapter.
"Peace to you" was a common greeting in the days of "The Original" (the 12 disciples Christ hand-picked). The intent of making this offering of peace was like a blessing/prayer in every area of a person's life. Today we know it as the traditional Jewish greeting: "Shalom".
Now, as I think about the situation the disciples found themselves in when Jesus appeared to them...your heart has to have a little sorrow. After all, these guys were most likely in a state of confusion and their hearts broken over all the events that had transpired in the last 3 days.
Then...He arrives!
To me, it would be like not seeing someone you really love and care for...and all of a sudden...they are here! Or perhaps you have hurt someone, and have much pain within from what happened, and all you want to do is make things right...and suddenly, it happens. And what a joy it must have been to hear those words: "Peace to you!"
I honestly think the greeting Jesus gave to His disciples ( 3 different times) is an undoubted assurance that..."Hey guys...it's ok...we are all in this thing...together!"
Then, He does something....He breathes upon them and says: "Receive the Holy Spirit." Simply put, what an awesome and loving thing to do for His disciples. Again, how I take this portion of verse is that Jesus is saying: "Look, it is what it is...you didn't have the power yet...but now is your time...the next time you face the world...the results will be a whole lot different! You will now have the strength to stand-up against problems, threats, persecution, and failures."
Do I think they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit right then? No, no I don't. I think He breathed on them to give them the power from the Holy Spirit to feel the hurts in others, and the strength to introduce others to the best friend a man/woman can have: Jesus...the King of Kings. In fact, I wonder if it was at this point in their lives...the disciples were..."Born Again". I'm just sayin'....remember, they were still asking Jesus (even at this point)...if He was going to restore Israel, free them from the Roman Empire, and set up His Kingdom here on earth.
Prior to Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit upon His disciples...what had happened when He first arrived? He showed them...the Scriptures do not read they asked Him, rather it reads: "He showed them"....His scars. Why?
Honestly, I think it was to "drive home" the fact that 1) He is very much alive...He really did triumph over Death, and the work of the Cross had a real purpose 2) To let the disciples see for themselves...the ministry of "The True Messiah" can involve hardships...we live in a fallen world and not everyone is open to receiving the "The True Messiah" 3) There is purpose to each one of the disciples lives...and He chose them to begin the ministry of what we commonly refer today as "The Good News"...and His purpose in their lives will fulfill them...whether they live or die.
Now...the last part........
"...If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven. If you don't forgive their sins...what are you to do? ( some translations read: They are not forgiven).
Ok, one of the chief complaints the Jewish leadership had against Jesus was: speaking to others and saying their sins are forgiven...for by doing so He was claiming to be...God. ( They had no clue who they were messin' with)
Now, He says to His disciples after breathing upon them the Holy Spirit...that they have the power to forgive sins...in fact, if they choose not to forgive sin...then the sin is not forgiven.
What???
This is another reason why I think the disciples could have very well had a real "Born Again" experience at this meeting with Christ Jesus. Here is why: what do we do to become Born Again? We ask Christ Jesus to forgive us of our sins and invite Him into our hearts and lives...right?
I think that is what is going on here...in this verse. Some people have taken this "off the deep-end" and set themselves up as "Good Christian people" (which by my definition is an oxymoron) and made themselves judges as to what sins we have, what we need to do if found guilty, and all kind of "crap" like that (sorry..I just think that slang word describes these type of behaviors so well).
I think what Christ Jesus is saying in this verse is: "Look, when your run into someone that is truly sorry and desires to repent of sin in their lives...you now have the power to reassure them...their sins are forgiven as they give their hearts...to Me. ..just the same as...you guys (the disciples).
On the other hand, if you meet someone who thinks they have a better idea to know My Father...or worse yet...they can do it on their own....thinking all the good they try and do will outweigh the sin in their lives...then no...you cannot forgive the sin in their lives...they can only be forgiven...through Me."
Ok...enough said on a beautiful evening in the land of O-HI-O!
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