‘Peace’ means “I have forgiven all those sins against me.”
The first thing Jesus says to his disciples on Easter is, “Peace be with you!” They had just seen how Jesus won forgiveness for their sins, and forgiveness must have been on their minds after all the boasting, denying, running away, doubting, and hiding in fear they had done. So Jesus says, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19) And ‘Peace’ means “I have forgiven all those sins against me.”
“After he said this, he showed them his hands and side” (vs. 20). Why do you think he did that? He’s telling them, “Yes, it’s really me! I’m the same Jesus you saw nailed on that cross. Now the Father has raised me to life and has returned me to glory because I have accomplished redemption, salvation, and forgiveness. Remember how many times I told you about this. These marks on my body show the payment I made for your sin. But the fact I stand before you alive proves my payment was good: forgiveness belongs to you.”
Jesus offers forgiveness of sins through the promise of his Word. It begins with Jesus’ first words, “Peace be with you!” The promise of the risen Lord carries the power of forgiveness. No surprise there, but what about this!
When your pastor proclaims to you, “I forgive you all your sins,” that’s exactly what you receive.
“Jesus said to them again, ‘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. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’” (John 20:21-23). Yes, you heard that right! Jesus shares the power to forgive sins with you. He forgives sins through the Word he gives his people to speak. And when you speak that Word to one another, the Lord speaks through you. With these words, Jesus promises, “You know what I said, and you know what the Father sent me to do: earn forgiveness for all and proclaim forgiveness to you! But now it’s your turn. ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ So go and proclaim forgiveness with my promise, with my Word!”
You understand what this great promise and command means, right? It means when your pastor proclaims to you, “I forgive you all your sins,” that’s exactly what you receive. The power comes not from the person but from the promise of Jesus. Jesus has also entrusted his Word to you. You have it, you have the power to use it, and Jesus wants you to forgive! As you forgive, you live out his peace: peace among brothers and sisters in Christ and peace with your Father in heaven. So go, love one another, forgive each other, and share his peace.
