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Same Play, Second Act
In John 20, we find some events that took place on that momentous Sunday, the first day of the week, when Jesus was raised from the dead. Some of those events took place early that Sunday morning and other events happened later that day, at evening. It was in the evening of the same day that Jesus appeared to His disciples and others who were hiding for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). And then, to this frightened and confused group of friends and disciples, Jesus spoke these words:
John 20:21 – “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
His words to them were comforting and also challenging. Just like they are to us today. And then Jesus uttered some of the most misunderstood words in all the gospel accounts. He said:
John 20:23 – “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Do you see how a lazy interpretation of this verse could lead you to believe that God has granted fallen, mortal men the ability to forgive sins? And those sins are forgiven, not because they are confessed by the one who has sinned, but by the forgiveness of an uninterested third party. How can that be?
Want to know more? Then keep listening.
