⏱ 6 min read

• We know of rest in peace, but do you know of sent in peace? Today, we share an exciting and interesting statement by Jesus found in John 20. Let’s dig in:

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” ~ John 20:19-22 (NIV)

• John 20 describes the first appearance of Jesus after His resurrection to His disciples collectively or in a group.
• It happened on the evening of the Sunday of the resurrection; (v19, v26, Acts 20:7, and a few other verses are the reasons that we (Christians) have been meeting on Sundays).
• Anyway, so the disciples were shut away in a locked room for fear of the Jews and suddenly Jesus was right there in their midst (Can you imagine this in real life? Someone appears in your locked room…)

I believe this proves that our resurrected bodies will not need doors or openings to get into buildings. Paul calls it a spiritual body (1 Cor 15:42-44) [I sure can’t wait for that blessed day and I hope you’re preparing for it also)…

• Jesus appears and greets them: ‘Peace be with you!’ What a blessed greeting!
• Perhaps a common greeting in their day, but I believe whatever Jesus says is powerful and has a meaningful effect.
• I will want to suggest this and the modified version used by the Apostles (“Grace and peace to you!”) as a usual thing we say to each other in conversation.

 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

• I believe that through that breath of the resurrected Christ, in a totally new way, the Holy Spirit entered into each of those disciples.
• And through the Holy Spirit, the very life and nature of Jesus was imparted to them. May you and I receive the breath of the resurrected Christ!
• Jesus was revealing to His disciples the next important thing needed for the fulfilment of their ministry, that’s the anointing!

Dear friend, it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that makes a big difference in your ministry and personal life. God knew this mystery and has given us the Holy Spirit as a seal of His covenant and to help us fulfill God’s mission on earth! May you receive the anointing of God, as you fulfill your mission as a soul winner!

• Based on that powerful impartation of His own life and nature, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”
• The Father sent Jesus into the world to fulfil a unique task which no one else could fulfil.
• Jesus fulfilled the task and was about to return to the Father, but He didn’t leave Himself without representatives on the earth (you and I).

Jesus was saying: “Just in the same way the Father originally sent Me to fulfil a special task, now I am sending you, My disciples, to fulfil a special task (which no one will fulfill if you don’t do it).”

• I believe every believer has a unique task to fulfil, in addition to the general task given to us all (Read: Preparation Or Calculation – what do we do? and God Is Counting On You)
• What has God called you to do? I want to encourage us to take time to pray and wait on God on this. There is something specifically for each of us to do for God.
• For instance: our devotional reaches Rwanda because of one of our lovely Vees who shares with her people (there is no other way we could reach that audience if she didn’t share).

• And just as the devotionals can never reach the people in your circle and network unless you share them, God cannot reach some people if we all do not get involved!
• Think about it, if you were God and you wanted to win 8 billion souls, would you need a few people? Not possible! That’s why many are called, including you!
• Dear friend, God needs you! Something is going to be missing in our Christian walk if you do not join in and fulfil your task! (Please read: Can’t You Do Just A Little Bit More?)

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and GAVE US the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 
And HE HAS COMMITTED TO US THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18-20)

We can consider the following as our prayer response:

Father, what a privilege, that You are sending me, just as You’ve sent Your Son Jesus! Please help me to fully live my life for You, and to really understand my life doesn’t belong to me anymore. Show me how You are sending me, to fulfil the special task You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, amen!