John 20:22-23 Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

THE GIFT OF PEACE

On Easter evening Jesus offered His disciples the very receipt -- the evidence of the peace He had won -- the proof that their sin-debt and ours had been paid in full. "Look at my hands and my feet."

This peace that Jesus gives doesn't change the world around us. This peace changes us within -- removes our fear even though trouble and danger still threaten, gives us peace by giving us faith's confidence, making us sure of our Lord's living presence and His victory over any danger which may threaten, even death. For this is the peace of heart and mind that comes from the message of sins forgiven.

"This peace is nothing else than that the heart is certain that it has a merciful God and the forgiveness of sins, for without this it can neither stand in the time of need and danger, nor be satisfied by any earthly fortune" (Martin Luther).

This peace -- peace with God through Christ -- has not been given to us that we might keep it to ourselves. We are to disperse this peace to others. Simply put, Jesus gives His believers the authority to forgive sins in His very name. What an awesome right and responsibility our Savior places on our hearts and in our hands!

None of us could be equal to such a task if our Lord did not do for us what He did for His first disciples. As unseen as the breath from His mouth that Easter night, yet just as real, He gives us the gift which equips us to speak His peace to sinners in need. He gives us the Holy Spirit.