Inner Peace and the Transformative Power of Forgiveness
John 20:19-23 (KJV)
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so, send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
As we explore the message of John 20:19-23, we discover that it is profound! When we allow ourselves to be mentally transported into that “locked room”, we experience within the narrative the significance of this moment between Jesus and His disciples. Because in this moment we also discover the gift of inner peace and the remarkable power that forgiveness brings. Let’s open our hearts and minds in order to be receptive to the Holy Spirit and receive the wisdom and lessons that lie within these few verses.
Inner Peace:
Our text opens with the disciples in the locked room, hiding in fear of the Jewish authorities, and loathing a future without Jesus. Locked away, bound by their fear, it is In this pitiful and vulnerable state that Jesus appears among them and speaks the words, “Peace be onto you”. With this, Jesus dispels their fear, replacing it with the precious gift of peace. This peace is far beyond a simple absence of conflict because the Peace of God transcends all human understanding. Because with it, comes a sense of wholeness and security that is only found through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Just as Jesus came to His disciples, He reaches out to us in our own moments of fear and doubt. Speaking directly to our hearts, He says, “Peace be onto you”. The peace that Jesus offers us goes far beyond our external circumstances, as it gives each of us a deeply profound sense of inner well-being and serenity that anchors us in all of life's storms.
Embracing the Power of Forgiveness:
Continuing on in verse 21, Jesus commissions the disciples, empowering them to go out into the world to carry on His work. He does this by breathing on them saying receive the Holy Spirit. In this act, the disciples are empowered and reanimating, reminding us of how the Father breathed life into the body of Adam;
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 soul.
Gen 2:7
Similarly, here in the locked room, with His breath, Jesus says, "Receive the Holy Spirit.". As a point of interest, the Hebrew word for breath is “Ruach” which can be translated as breath, wind, or Spirit. By this same “Ruach”, the disciples are empowered and reinvigorated with God’s Holy Spirit. Just as the "Ruach" gave humanity the breath of life, here we see its transformative power within the disciples, and also within us. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to fulfill our mission to go share the good news of Jesus in the world around us.
Unlocking the Potential of Forgiveness:
In verse 23, Jesus explains that as His disciples, we have the authority to forgive sins. CS Lewis is quoted as saying “Everyone says that forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life”. How right he was, because forgiveness is both a big responsibility and at the same time a remarkable privilege. It holds tremendous power—it can heal deep wounds of hurt, restore broken relationships, setting free both the forgiver and the forgiven from the destructive burdens of guilt and resentment.
The power found in forgiveness should never be underestimated. It possesses the potential to mend brokenness, foster reconciliation, and release us from the chains of bitterness that consume us from within just like a cancerous growth. When we find within us the compassion of Jesus to extend forgiveness, we become catalysts of His love, fostering healing and peace, person by person, in a world that is marred by sin and brokenness.
Forgiveness is never easy as it requires us to let go of pride and release our desire for revenge. When we forgive, we embrace the transformative nature of God’s grace. Because it’s only through forgiveness that we break the cycle of hatred and bitterness, opening doors to redemption and restoration. Forgiveness is a radical act that demonstrates the love of Christ in our lives.
Summary:
As we reflect on this first-day locked room encounter, between Jesus and His disciples, we are reminded of the gift of inner peace that Jesus offers us in our fears and uncertainties. As His followers we are called to receive this peace and in turn, offer it to others. The power to forgive, granted to us by Christ, holds the key to reconciliation, healing, and the restoration of broken relationships.
Just as Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”, let’s embrace afresh today Jesus’s call to forgive. We’ve been empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome our fears to do so with courage and humility. Today may we become agents of Jesus’s peace, extending His grace to those who have wronged us. And as we do so, may the transformative power of forgiveness bring us healing, bring about reconciliation, and draw others closer to experiencing the love and harmony of Jesus the Messiah.
May all of us today find the inner peace of Jesus and with it experience the transformative power that forgiveness brings to our lives.
Have a great day, and God bless,
Trev.