John 20:19-23
Chapter 20
19
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples were locked in because of their fear of the Jews. But Jesus came and stood among them and said: “Peace be with you!”20
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Seeing the Lord, the disciples were filled with joy.
21
Jesus said to them again:
“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22
After saying this, he breathed on them and said:
“Receive the Holy Spirit!
23
Those whose sins you forgive are forgiven; those whose sins you retain are retained.”
Commentaries
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
The evangelist shows the disciples in an uncertain place with the doors tightly shut out of fear. Then, the Lord appears to them, stands among them, offers peace, and reveals the wounds from his passion: he is the same one who was crucified on the cross. The disciples are filled with joy. The Lord breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” With the Spirit’s help, the disciples will be able to forgive sins. In verses 24-29, Jesus appears again to the disciples, this time with Thomas present. The scene’s vivid, dramatic realism is striking. What happened to Thomas can happen to any Christian today. From that moment on, the community of disciples is not just the Twelve gathered in a specific place and time; anyone who has faith is blessed and becomes a disciple of the Lord, even if they haven’t seen him physically. The vision of faith is the only way to encounter him truly.