Lessons from the Great Commission-Jesus breathes

Again, Jesus offers, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And then the Scriptures say that Jesus BREATHED on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Whoosh! Jesus breathed on them! And just as sure as peace had entered the room with the words of Jesus, so the Holy Spirit landed with a breath! For in a whisper, a breath, the Ruach of the Lord, came the most important of all commissioning. The Holy Spirit.

Friends, we need the Holy Spirit in our lives. We need His presence, wisdom, truth to permeate every invisible area in and around us.

Before Jesus would give His followers the final instruction of His Great Commission, He would breathe on them! Amazing-the breath of God. He offers it freely. Receive it. Take a deep breath and allow His presence to fill your spirit. For in the next and final verse of this study, Jesus calls us forgiveness.

Jesus knew that we couldn't forgive on our own strength. He knew that an unforgiving heart would tear us apart, eat us up from the inside out, and attempt to destroy our testimony. He knew that the bitter roots of unforgiveness would steal our joy, harden our hearts, and rob us of the peace that He is so intent on pouring out upon us.

But this message about forgiveness was so deeply important that Jesus spoke these words in John 20:23.

"If you forgive the sins of any; they are forgive them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Why would THIS be among the first words the Lord spoke to His followers? Could it be that there was much controversy in this day? Many had been offended by the words of a good friend, family member or another who stood in disagreement with the knowledge of the Christ. There wasn’t a social media aspect, as we have today, but I imagine word traveled fast in the ancient city of Jerusalem. These were tumultuous times. Jesus had even warned them in John 16:33; “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Selah

Jesus breathes on His disciples. He breathes on you. He offers His Holy Spirit to each of us. We need only to receive Him.

Do you need help in your life? Where could you benefit if you could walk in the power of the Holy Spirit? How would His presence change your life? Maybe you have the Holy Spirit but you've been trying to do life alone. That's the beauty of God, He never leaves us, but is waiting to hear from you.

Do you have an area of unforgiveness in your heart? Jesus tells us that if we let go, if we forgive the offense, it will be done. Gone. In forgiving, you've given the power of justice back to God, where it belongs. It's all from the enemy anyway. Your loved ones didn't intend to hurt you. Sometimes we are the hurt one, and sometimes we are the vessel that hurts.

We have a choice. If we forgive, it's done. If we retain, well, the offense will continue to cause us pain.

What would you like to release to God today? What troubles you? Are you ready to give it

up? What would change in your world, if you let it go?

Dear Jesus, we thank you for your gift of breath! Thank you that you have not left us alone but you have given us the Holy Spirit so that we can be strong. Thank you that courage can come in the form of forgiving those who have hurt us. And the result of the breath that you breathe upon us, is that we are finally free to travel wherever you would take us! Guard our hearts, Lord. Keep us walking with you! In your precious name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.