Convincing Proofs - Power 1

Has it dawned upon us that we have been stationed on just one occasion, during those forty days when Jesus showed Himself to His disciples? He spent those days in mission, which would not be broken down, halted, minimized or shot down, neither by foe or friend. This was His single mission before ascending, back into heaven.

Jesus’ mission, as we were previously told, was twofold. It was to convince His followers that He was really alive, risen from the dead and to bring them closer to the Kingdom of God as real, alive and with them as He is. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1: 3.

Indeed, we have been receiving from one occasion, when Jesus appeared to His frightened disciples, who were visibly living in fear of what people could and would do to them. Jesus, in this one sitting, provided them with much, when He spoke His Peace to them. Right at this point, don’t you feel the definite pull, the hunger, the need to hear the Scripture verses again? There is grace and mercy in hearing. There is power and might in listening. There is wisdom and want in knowing.

Holy Spirit, as we hear again Your Sacred Word, let Your grace and mercy not by-pass us. May the power and might of Your Living Word capture us and bring us back to You, in deep surrender. We long for and hunger for Your wisdom, as we are want, to receive double portions of Your Peace. Amen!

With listening ears, we hear.

On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be to you! After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. John 20: 19 – 23.

Having served all who were present, His fear-removing Peace and His faith-receiving Presence, Jesus continues to strongly convince, with the freedom of His Power to forgive or not to forgive sins. 

Power - If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven

Will you join me in looking at this as the Peace of Power?

The first thing we are brought to remember, is the absolute horror, shock and disproval of some teachers of the Law, at a mere mortal man forgiving sins. These religious and holy Jewish men of God, who were the Spiritual leaders of their day, heard Rabbi Jesus tell a man that his sins were all forgiven. These leaders went wild in their minds and hearts, when they heard the Nazarene speak such blasphemous words. Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves. Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?  Mark 2: 6 – 7. That was the thinking, belief and understanding of the religious experts and teachers and that is what they taught all people. I am sure that some of Jesus’ Jewish disciples grew up with that understanding as well. Nonetheless, this is what we are hearing and seeing. In their new, resurrected state, where the Peace of the Lord has been spoken in them, they are now free from all that would hinder them from receiving what their Risen Jesus is serving them.

True, forgiveness of sins is of God, but Jesus has already stated this, most assuredly. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, Matthew 28: 18b. Surely, all authority included the authority over the decisions of forgiveness. Jesus can comfortably give such power over to His disciples, because He has already fixed and fitted them with His surpassing Peace and unduplicatable Presence.  

Let’s reason here, in Spirit and in Truth. Don’t forget, Jesus’ mission is to bring convincing proofs to His people, of Him being alive. I ask you, won’t they be further convinced, when Jesus confers on them this authority? If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. Jesus does not just serve them this authority, but He also assures them of its Divine confirmation. Whatever action is necessary, whether it is to forgive sins or not to forgive sins, their works will be ratified. In other words, God Himself will do as they have said, in the Name of His Risen Son.

Jesus, our Risen Lord and Master, who overcame death for us, has overcome the death of crippling fears in all who have received His offered Peace. His Peace has brought us joy and so overjoyed are we in Him, we are free and bold to live as He desires and not as any kind of death dictates.  

Thank You Lord, we can know You as before, knowing that our sins are pardoned for sure. Thanks for the sweet bliss of inner peace, as upon Your Word we sumptuously feast. Amen!