1. SENT LIKE HIM

The risen Lord's first commission was made behind the barred doors of the upper room on the evening of the first day of His resurrection (John 20:19 ). The shut doors could not keep out the Victor over death. Neither was His resurrection body limited like our mortal bodies are. The Master showed by His resurrected bodily presence that our resurrected body, or changed body, will be "raised in power" (1 Corinthians 15:43; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

That coming together of the disciples on the first day was indeed significant. The appearance of the risen Lord would no doubt be the supreme subject of their conversation. The doors were bolted because they feared violence against themselves as the followers of Jesus.

John 20:19 "...JESUS CAME and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you'."

The everyday greeting with which they were familiar took on a new meaning when He had said to them "Peace I leave with you" (John 14:27 ). When He spoke these words, He was on His way to Gethsemane and the cross, and they had fled in fear and dread. Now He gave them His peace showing the scars of Golgotha, as the triumphant Lord (John 20:20 ). His followers and kingdom sons can now His peace today, tomorrow and forever because He is "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8 ).

The one who commissions is the conquering, abiding, living Lord. Not even the threat of violence can change that. The kingdom of heaven can be proclaimed by lip and presented by life in every opposing corner of the earth, because Jesus is alive in the power of an endless life. He is Lord. He shall reign. His kingdom will know no frontiers.

The key to effective witnessing is joy through seeing the Lord.

John 20:20 "...Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord."

The Greek word for "saw" is "eido". Interestingly it is used of John when he saw and believed (John 20 :8 ).

G. Campbell Morgan points out, "it means more than the mere seeing of the eye, it refers to seeing which produces understanding".

Their fear was dealt with by the joy of their understanding the risen Lord. To know Him and the power of His resurrection, brings holy boldness in confident witnessing. In the light of their seeing (and knowing) Him, He again says, "Peace to you", this time as the foundation of His commission. They are sent as He was sent.

John 20:21 "...As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

Here the risen Lord does formally what He prayed to the Father in His intercession before the cross,

John 17:18"As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world"

That it includes present day believers is clear from His statement:

John 17:20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word."

The mission of those who saw the risen Lord is the work of kingdom sons today. Just as He represented the Father, so He is to be represented by us today. The "as" and "also" of His command makes us take a new look at our responsibility and our personal obedience. The apostle says some pertinent things related to this:

John 2:4,6 "He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

Such a commission cannot be fulfilled without the power of the Holy Spirit. That is why He gave them a foretaste of Pentecost:

John 20:22"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'."

The Greek word for "breathed" is used nowhere else in the New Testament, but is interestingly used by the Septuagint translators of Genesis 2:7: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." On the first day of the resurrection the new creation had begun - begun by the Head of the new creation. He breathed upon a new breed of people who would manifest His kingdom. This prophetic breathing was to have its fulfillment on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4 ) when they would receive power from on high (Acts 1:8 ). That power is still available today for every new creature, power to be for His glory and to do His will on earth.

The message of the sent ones brings forgiveness of sins to those who hear and believingly receive Jesus (John 1:12 ), and retainment of sins to those who resolutely reject Jesus. That is the meaning of the words in John:

John 20:23 "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained"

This purpose was announced to Joseph.

Matthew 1:21 "And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

He bore man's sin and broke sin's power, to set man free from sin. Having finished the work the risen Lord sends us, "also" with the saving message, to speak to the repentant the forgiveness of sins - to speak retention of sins to the unrepentant. We are sent to make individuals, our community, country, and the world, face the sin question. Through a repentant, redeemed multitude of Spirit-filled kingdom people, the alternative, which is the kingdom of light, will be seen, so that the kingdom of darkness and sin will be finally dealt with by bringing back the King.

Begin to understand that you are sent, to bring back the King. This will prepare you to consider other likenesses to our Lord's sending and our sending, in the following chapters.