John 20:20-22 (NASB1995): And when he had said this, he showed them both his hands and his side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the holy spirit.
After appearing to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus—now a spirit being—instantly transferred himself to the upper room where the other disciples were gathered. The doors were locked due to fear of Jewish persecution, yet Jesus appeared among them, having discarded the form and clothing used in Emmaus. He materialized a new body and garments, demonstrating spirit capabilities similar to angels, unrestricted by physical barriers.
His sudden presence terrified the disciples, but his familiar greeting, “Peace be unto you,” began to calm them. (He gave the same message right before his crucifixion – John 14:27-29) This was still the day of his resurrection, and the disciples had been trying to make sense of the conflicting reports from the women about Jesus being alive. Jesus confirmed the resurrection by showing them his wounds, turning their fear into joy, though they remained puzzled by his supernatural entrance and exit.
Jesus was no longer the man Christ Jesus, but the glorified, spirit Jesus—able to appear and disappear at will. He gave the apostles their commission: “As the Father sent me, even so send I you.” Symbolically, he breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the holy Spirit,” indicating that his own spirit would empower them for their mission.
Our Lord was giving them a pantomimic teaching. He wanted them to understand that in sending them out they were not to exercise power belonging to themselves, but the power of God through them, therefore, he gave them the illustration of breath, or his spirit, which he wished to communicate to them. This moment commissions the disciples to carry forward Jesus’ work. It’s a prelude to the fuller outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), but it affirms that their authority and power come from God.
This act was a visual teaching, not the actual impartation of the spirit—they still needed to wait in Jerusalem for Pentecost. The holy spirit could only come upon those fully reconciled to the Father. Jesus first needed to ascend to heaven and present the merit of his sacrifice on behalf of believers. Only then could they be accepted by the Father and receive the full adoption as sons of God through the spirit.
