Jesus appears in the midst of the disciples and gives them the common Jewish greeting: “Peace” (or “Shalom”). He identifies himself by showing his hands and side. The reaction of the disciples is one of rejoicing. A commissioning follows. Jesus says that he had been sent by God, which leads into the “Johannine Pentecost”. According to the Fourth Evangelist, the gift of the Spirit was bestowed on the evening of Easter Day itself, not on Pentecost some seven weeks later, as others have it. The disciples are immediately commissioned and given the Spirit as a power that will enable them to witness to Christ. Then the authorization to forgive sins completes the series of events on Easter Day.
Read the whole sermon below
Downloads