Pentecost - John 20: 19-23

Hi everyone, welcome back to the logical. Bible study podcast. Thank you for tuning in again. This is the podcast where we look at the Gospel, reading from the massive today, and we really want to do a thorough exegesis on the text. We want to pull it apart. So we can understand what the author was trying to get at

today. We're looking at John chapter 20 verses 19 to 23. In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, peace be with you and show them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy. When they saw the Lord and he said to them, again. Peace be with you. As the father sent me.

So I am sending you. After saying this he breathed on them and said receive the holy spirit for those whose sins you forgive. They are forgiven for those whose sins you retain they are retained. So let's start by thinking about the context.

So, it's Easter Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene has already been to the tomb and she seen Jesus in the form of the Garda, and she runs back and tells the apostles that all happens in John chapter 20. So what we're going to see in our passage today, if you add it all up. This is the fifth appearance of Jesus after his resurrection, and it's on the very same day. It's later on Easter Sunday. Now, one thing that's worth pointing out is this passage is read every year on Pentecost, Sunday.

Now that can be a bit misleading. In fact, it has misled the some Scholars, and perhaps, you might have even heard some priests say, this, that this passage is John's version of Pentecost, as in John, was intending to write this to tell us that this is Pentecost day. And this is what happened at Pentecost.

And obviously, it's quite different from Luke's account of the Pentecost. In the book of Acts, it is not correct to say that John here is describing his version of the Pentecost. That is just bad scholarship. Pentecost is the event that's talked about in the book of Acts and that occurs after Jesus Ascension. This events that we're looking at. Although, it does involve Jesus giving the holy spirit. It's a different kind of giving in the Holy Spirit.

And more importantly. It happens at a different time. This event that we're going to see today happen. Ins before Jesus Ascension. In fact, it's on Easter Sunday. It's a completely different outpouring of the spirit than what occurs at Pentecost. In fact, the catechism actually says that, these are two separate events. There's a passage in the catechism that will look at

where it says that. So, if you hear anyone saying that this is John's version of Pentecost, you can politely Point them towards the, the catechism where the Catholic Church clearly teaches that we understand this to be two separate events. So verse 19 in the evening of that same day, the first day of the week. It's Easter Sunday. They call that Sunday. The first day of the week in that culture.

The doors were closed in the room where the disciples were for fear of the Jews. So the disciples in some big room in Jerusalem, and they're afraid that the Jewish authorities are going to come and get them. Think about this state of mind. The disciples are probably in shock. After they've seen the Jewish authorities, put Jesus to death, and they're probably worried that the Jews will want to get rid of them, his followers as

well. But while they're in the room with the door closed, Jesus came and stood among them. Now, even though the doors are locked somehow, Jesus appears out of nowhere in the room. And this is the Fulfillment of many of the promises that he's given to them earlier. He said, to the apostles and chapter 14. I will come back to you. So this is the Fulfillment of that and the first thing he says to them is peace be with you. He knows that they will be in shock.

So he gives them a friendly. Greeting. And the word here for peace is the Hebrew Shalom. And obviously if you know your Bible there's a lot packed into that. It basically has strong connotations about reconciliation between God and man, which is what Jesus has come to bring. He showed his hands and his side. So he wants to prove to them that he's not a ghost. We that's becomes clear. If you look at Luke's version of this appearance of Jesus. He wants them to know that he's

not a ghost. You can route read. Luke 24:4 that the disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. So, finally, this group of apostles who hadn't believed up to an hour. They finally believe late on Easter Sunday, evening, and there are Overjoyed, they realize that Truly has risen bodily. Now, Jesus now gives them a commission. He kind of changes the topic here a bit. And the Commissioners will see, is to forgive sins in his name. Verse 21 as the father sends me,

so I am sending you. This is an important verse, the son. Jesus was sent by the father. We know that from John chapter 12. Now, Jesus, the son is going to send the apostles to continue the same mission that he was given from the father. So the apostles mission is actually an extension of the sun's mission that he was given from the father. And in particular, the mission that he's thinking of is the one about forgiving sins early in the gospels.

We see that the father has given the sun power on Earth to forgive sins. Now, this power is going to transfer to the apostles themselves. Verse 22 after saying this, he breathed on them and said receive the Holy Spirit. Now, this is a special gift personally given from Jesus directly to the apostles. It's not given to all believers. It's given to the apostles and he breathes on them. Very physical language and that recalls especially Genesis 2:7 where God breathes new life into

man. So in a sense by breathing on them, Jesus signifies that he's passing on the authority that he has. It's kind of similar to laying on of hands. As part of this new creation, his breathing New Life. He's transferring his own power to forgive sins into the apostles. So it's really cool. There's a lot of imagery coming together here. Now, the Holy Spirit. He it says he said to them, receive the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has been mentioned before, and particularly Jesus, baptism the holy the Holy Spirit. Overshadows Jesus. Now, it's being imparted from Jesus to the apostles as a gift for the first time. This is the first time where the apostles as a group get exposed to the Holy Spirit. Now it's worth mentioning at this point. That this is not Pentecost. You'll see some Progressive Scholars saying that this is John's version of the Pentecost event.

This is not the Pentecost event. The Punic Pentecost event happens much later in the book of Acts. And in fact, the catechism makes it clear as will see that this is not the Pentecost event. This is a different outpouring of the spirit. And this is what Jesus says to them. This is his commission verse 23. I'll read the whole phrase for her. Sins. You forgive. They are forgiven for whose sins. You retain. They are retained.

Now, this is a very significant verse for Catholic theology and one that we need to talk about more. I think. So, for whose sins you forgive. They are forgiven. Remember, Jesus is saying this to the apostles, the context, and the Greek text here, indicates that the apostles themselves. Now, I've been given binding and loosing Authority for forgiveness of sins. Sometimes you'll see other non-catholic Christians, try and explain this verse by saying

that. What Jesus is saying is that essentially God is going to forgive sins and then the apostles are going to detect it. And then the apostles will just know and then they'll pass that information on to people. That's not what the context is suggesting. What's going on? Here is the other way around. Jesus is saying that, if the apostles determine that, someone's sins should be forgiven, then God will forgive them. That's what Jesus is saying.

It's not that God, forgives someone first and then the apostles learn about it. That's not what the Greek text is saying. The Greek is making it clear that the apostles themselves have the power to forgive sins, because Jesus has given them that power. So, here's how it's going to work in. Practice is what Jesus is saying. When the apostles choose to forgive. Someone sins. God will forgive their sins.

God will ratify their decision. And this is an extension of the binding and loosing that Jesus had already given them earlier in Matthew chapter 16, and then the second half of this phrase is for who sin. You retain, they are retained. So notice Jesus also gives the power to the apostles to refuse, forgiveness of people in certain situations. He's saying that in certain situations. If you choose, not to forgive someone sins, then God won't forgive their sins. Either.

This is strong language, but it seems to be what Jesus is saying. And notice again, the clear Biblical teaching here. The Forgiveness of sins is not automatic. It's not guaranteed. There's certain things we have to do to get forgiveness of Ins Christians, some Christians. Don't like that teaching, but we need to be clear that it does appear to be biblical.

Now, one interesting bit of information that comes from this, if you think about it, if Jesus is saying to the apostles, you now have the power to forgive sins, the practice of confession as Catholics, think of it, that has changed throughout the ages. What the confessional looks like has changed. How a person approaches a priest to get forgiveness has changed in the Catholic Church, throughout 2000 years, but Scholars point out that this

passage at least at a minimum. Implies that if Jesus. Specs his Apostles to do some sort of confession. To do some sort of confession setup. Because how else are they going to know? Whether to forgive someone sins? If they don't know what the sins are you notice? You see that? They're so Jesus is sort of implying that in the future. People are going to have to tell the apostles their sins because how can the apostles forgive their sins? If they don't know what they are.

So there's a subtle hint here that Jesus is setting up the sacrament of reconciliation or confession. Now usually the Catholic Church doesn't provide an official interpretation of any biblical. Text. Usually it leaves it up to Scholars to work out what the most likely meaning is. And in this podcast, we talk about different interpretations of texts. But this passage John 20:23 that we're looking at. The church has officially given a pronouncement on what it means

at least at a minimum. So at the Council of Trent in the 16th century, the church defines this Passage and they said that it means this is the institution of the sacrament of penance. Here's a quote from the Council of Trent about this passage. The Lord instituted the sacrament of penance principally. When after his resurrection, he breathed upon his disciples and said receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you retain the sins of any they are

retained. So that's the quote from the Council of Trent and the universal teaching of the father's has always acknowledged that by such a Sublime action. And by such clear words the power of forgiving and retaining sins was given to the apostles and their lawful successors. The Bishops for reconciling the faithful who have fallen after

baptism. So that's been the constant teaching of the church is that at this moment in the room in Jerusalem, Jesus gives Them, the power to do confession and to forgive sins. So there's a lot in that. So where does the catechism refer to this everywhere? It's all over the place. This passage from John chapter 20, we can't cover all of the passages, but I want to highlight some of the ones which are most relevant.

So, paragraph 645. We have a discussion here about Christ risen Humanity. It says by means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the Risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples. He invites them in this way to recognize that he is not a ghost and above all to verify, the Risen body in which he appears to them. Is the same body that had been tortured and crucified for it. Still Bears, the traces of his passion, yet at the same time,

this authentic, real body. Possesses the new properties of a glorious body. Not limited by space and time but able to be present how, and when he Wills For Christ's Humanity can no longer be confined to Earth and belongs. Henceforth only to the father's Divine Realm. So we see both aspects of that paragraph in our passage today. We see the marks of Jesus physical body and we see the fact that he can appear and disappear at will after his

resurrection. Then, there's a lot said, in the catechism, a lot said about when Jesus breathed on them and gives them the power to forgive sins. Paragraph 1, 120 is about the sacraments and it says, the ordained priesthood guarantees. That it really is Christ who acts in the, sacraments through the holy spirit for the church. The saving Mission entrusted by the father to his incarnate. Son was committed to the apostles, and through them, to their successes.

They receive the spirit of Jesus. Act in his name and he in his person. So that's important to keep in mind the apostles, act, in Jesus name, and the Bishops, their successors continued to do that. Paragraph 1441 is in the discussion about her. Only God forgives sins. It says, only God, forgives sins. But since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, the son of man has Authority on Earth to

forgive sins and exercises. This divine power by saying, your sins are forgiven further, by virtue of his Divine Authority. He gives this power to men to exercise in his name. So that paragraph in the catechism confirms what we said in the podcast about Jesus received the power to forgive sins from the father. And he passes that power here in John chapter, 20 onto the apostles paragraph. 858 is a discussion about the apostles that says Jesus is the Father's Emissary from the beginning of

his ministry. He called to him, Those whom he desired and he appointed twelve whom he named Apostles to be with him and to be sent out to preach. From then on, they would also be his emissaries, Greek. Apostille oi in them, Christ continues, his own mission quote, as the father has sent me even, so I send you The apostles Ministry is the continuation of his mission. Jesus said to the twelve, he who receives you receives me.

So that last bit there about to help the apostles continued Jesus mission explains a lot of the book of Acts. A lot of people say, the book of Acts is basically the Fifth Gospel because it continues what Jesus was doing. Paragraph 976 is a discussion about forgiving sins.

It says the Apostles Creed Associates faith in the Forgiveness of Sins. Not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith in the church and in the community of saints, it was when he gave the Holy Spirit, to his Apostles that the Risen Christ, conferred on them, his own divine power to forgive sins. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you retain the sins of any they are retained.

So again, that passage courts, John chapter 20, as the moment, in which Jesus gives them the power to forgive sins. There's a couple more paragraphs in there as well. And then in paragraph 1287 we have a discussion about confirmation the Sacrament of Confirmation.

It says the fullness of the spirit was not to remain uniquely the messiah's but was to be communicated to the whole Messianic people on several occasions Christ promised, this outpouring of the spirit A promise, which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday, and then more strikingly at Pentecost. So, again, that confirms what we said earlier on Easter Sunday, what we saw here in John chapter 20, it's the first outpouring of the spirit from Jesus to the apostles.

And then later at Pentecost. There's a second outpouring and they have different purposes. So this passage from John chapter 20 is really important as you can see for Catholic theology. That is the end of today's discussion. If you've learned something new and you think others would benefit, please share it with them. I will be really grateful and consider becoming a patron. There's all sorts of awesome

exclusive available to you. Please have a look at the show notes to get more information about how you can get access to those exclusive episodes and other resources. And all of that information is In the show notes, we'll see you again tomorrow. As we begin something you were going to go back to the gospel of Mark.

It's been awhile, since we've been going through the gospel of Mark, but now we finally get to return to it and that will be good to have some regularity back in the way that we move through the gospels. So, please tune in again tomorrow.