John 20:21

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:21 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to His disciples on the evening of the first day of the week. They were gathered in a locked room for fear of the Jews, and Jesus appeared, showed them His hands and side, and then spoke this second greeting of peace. The repetition of “Peace be unto you” was not merely a customary Jewish greeting; it was meant to calm their fright, engage their attention for what He was about to say, and pacify their consciences, which were distressed over their abandonment of Him.

Meaning

The peace Jesus imparts is not the world’s peace but the peace He had promised to leave with them (John 14:27), a peace obtained through the blood of His cross. It is a spiritual peace that results from His victory over sin and death and brings reconciliation with God. Jesus then commissions them: “as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” This sending is a divine commission, paralleling the Father’s sending of the Son. The Father sent Jesus into the world to do His will, preach the Gospel, and obtain eternal redemption. Likewise, Jesus sends His disciples to preach the Gospel, convert sinners, build up saints, plant churches, and administer ordinances. The likeness between the two missions includes divine authority, the same place (the world), and a similar condition of being despised, hated, and persecuted.

Biblical connections

This commission implies that Jesus has the power and authority to send them, and it confers honor and authority upon them. The mission is not based on their worthiness but on the pattern of Christ’s own mission. The immediate context continues with Jesus breathing on them and saying, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22), indicating that the empowerment for this mission comes from the Spirit. This verse is foundational for understanding the church’s mission as a continuation of Christ’s own sending.

Application

This verse reminds us that as followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to carry on His mission. We are called to be ambassadors of peace, to share the good news of salvation, and to demonstrate the love and grace of God to the world around us. Jesus empowers us with the Holy Spirit to fulfil this mission, just as He promised to His disciples later in the book of Acts.