DR 22
December 22
John 20:19-23. Christ bestows the Holy Spirit on his disciples.
This is the same appearance of the Lord as that recorded by Luke. It took place in the evening, after the resurrection. It is the first meeting recorded of the followers of the crucified Savior. It was the first of a long train of Christian assemblies. At this moment, in how many parts of the world congregations are worshiping him who suffered upon the cross! Our family is now meeting together in honor of his name. But do our feelings resemble those of the first disciples? Do we love Jesus? Do we earnestly long to see him? If he were now to stand in the midst of the room, should we be exceedingly glad? There are many who call themselves Christians, who do not love Christ. They would not be glad to see him.
When the risen Savior entered the room where the disciples were assembled, the doors were shut for fear of the Jews. It is evident that they were locked, or fastened, in order to keep out the enemy. It was easy for him who had just broken the bars of death to open those doors.
Luke relates, that on this occasion he ate in the presence of his disciples. This he did to show that he was man. But he also showed that he was God. He breathed on his disciples, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." At that very moment they received the Holy Spirit, though not in so abundant a manner, as after Jesus ascended.
Christ never gives us commands without enabling us to fulfill them. He commanded his apostles to preach the Gospel, and to enable them to preach it, he gave them the Holy Spirit. By this gift their understandings were enlightened more than they had ever been before. But the apostles could not forgive sins. He alone, against whom sin is committed, can forgive it. Why then did Jesus say to his apostles, "Whoever's sins you remit they are remitted to them?" Did He not enable them to know whom He would forgive?
When the men who had crucified their Lord came to them in an agony of grief, saying, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" the apostles knew what to reply. They knew that Christ would forgive his murderers, and they answered, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins." They knew also whom God would not forgive. When Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, Peter consigned them both to instant death.
What is the greatest blessing that sinners can receive? Is it not the forgiveness of sins? Do we desire to know whether our sins are forgiven? In the writings of the apostles we shall find rules laid down by which we may examine ourselves. Have we with real sorrow confessed our sins, and asked pardon in the name of Jesus? Then we have obtained mercy. For the apostle John has declared in his first epistle, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9.)