Peace Be to You
John 20:19-23
Pastor Jerry Koller

Verse 19:
• Chapters 13-17 record some of the things Jesus said to the eleven after they celebrated Passover together.
• Jesus told them that even though He must leave them, He will not leave them as orphans. He told them:

• Jesus didn’t want their hearts to be troubled. He didn’t want their hearts to be fearful.
• As a solution, He mentions peace twice.
• Jesus tells them, “Peace I leave with you.” Jesus will leave the Spirit with them so that they may have peace.
• Jesus tells them, “My peace I give to you.” He gives them his peace so that their hearts will not be fearful.

Verse 20:
• The only reason why Jesus would show them his hands and his side was because they were there when his hands were nailed to the cross.
• They witnessed the Roman soldier piercing his side with a spear to make sure he was dead.
• He bore the scars of His death in His body, and he presented them to his disciples to verify truth.

Verse 21:
• So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you;” (John 20:21a)

In the remainder of verse 21, and in verses 22 and 23, Jesus makes three important statements that will affect them from that moment on.
• As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21b)
• In his high priestly prayer, Jesus said he sent his disciples into the world.

Verse 22: They will need divine empowerment to carry out their mission.
• John says Jesus “breathed” on them.
• In Genesis 2:7, the word “breathed” implies the imparting of life, which comes from God.

In John 20:22, there is an imparting involved, an imparting of divine power.
• When Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the eleven, it was an empowerment, not an indwelling.

In verse 21, the eleven receive their commission. In verse 22, they receive power to carry out the mission for which they were sent. In verse 23, we see what that mission deals with.
• The context of this verse deals with the sending of the eleven, their empowering, and what the mission will entail.
• The mission deals with the forgiveness of sin and the retention of sin.

Only God can forgive sin.

Definition: Sin is any action, thought, or failure that breaks God’s moral law or goes against his holy character.

As believers in Christ, Jesus is with us.

He has commissioned us to go make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all he has commanded us.

He has empowered us through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

May we faithfully carry out the mission to which we have been sent, commissioned and empowered—for the glory of God!

mission café
Sundays | 9:00-10:15am | Mission Cafe

worship
Sundays | 10:30am | Sanctuary
• If you're unable to join us in-person, you can watch live on Facebook or view later in the week on Facebook or YouTube or listen to an audio only version on Archive.

children’s worship
Sundays | 10:30am | Children’s Worship Room
• Ages 5 years old through 5th grade
• Does not meet on the first Sunday of each month.
• Contact Alyssa Newell for questions or more information.

men’s bible study
Tuesdays | 7:00-8:30pm | Mission Café
• Contact Paul Fitton or Larry Dobberstein for questions or more information.

women's book study
Tuesdays | 7:00-8:30pm | Classroom 2
• Contact Annette Koller for questions or more information.

church office open
Wednesdays | 11:00am-4:00pm

theology class
Wednesdays | 7:00-8:00pm | Main Foyer
• Closed course.

women’s craft group
Thursdays | 6:30pm | Craft Room
• Contact Tracy Marshall for questions or more information.

coming soon
• Pumpkinfest | Saturday, 10/31 | 6:30-8:00pm | FBC Gym
• Oktoberfest | Sunday, 11/1 | during worship | Sanctuary

• Marge Benham is recovering from a successful surgery and doing well.
• Henry Truer is at Mary Freebed Hospital for rehab while receiving radiation treatments. He is consulting with an oncologist about chemo and/or immunotherapy treatments as well.
• Bruce Ferguson started 5 weeks of radiation therapy on 9/14.
• Alyssa Newell has been diagnosed with Lupus. She has an appointment in September to discuss a management plan; pray that the treatment options are successful.
• Joyce Bocock has a large hematoma in her thigh which is causing a significant amount of pain and making it difficult for her to walk.
• Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com