John 20:21

21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you."

John 20:21 Meaning and Commentary

John 20:21

Then said Jesus to them again
The words he said before:

peace be unto you;
which he repeated, to put them out of their fright, by reason of which they returned him no answer; and to raise and engage their attention to what he was about to say; and to pacify their consciences, distressed with a sense of their conduct towards him; and with a view to the Gospel of peace, he was now going to send them to preach:

as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you;
Christ's mission of his disciples, supposes power in him, honour done to them, authority put upon them, qualifications given them, and hence success attended them; what they were sent to do, was to preach the Gospel, convert sinners, build up saints, plant churches, and administer ordinances. The pattern of their mission, is the mission of Christ by his Father, which was into this world, to do his will, preach the Gospel, work miracles, and obtain eternal redemption for his people; and which mission does not suppose inferiority in his divine person, nor change of place, but harmony and agreement between the Father and Son: the likeness of these missions lies in these things; their authority is both divine; they are both sent into the same place, the world; and in much the same condition, mean, despicable, hated and persecuted; and in part for the same end, to preach the Gospel, and work miracles, for the confirmation of it; but not to obtain redemption, that being a work done solely by Christ; in which he has no partner, and to whom the glory must be only ascribed.

John 20:21 In-Context

19 Now [when it] was evening on that day--the first [day] of the week--and the doors had been shut where the disciples were because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace to you."

20 And [when he] had said this, he showed [his] hands and [his] side to them. Then the disciples rejoiced [when they] saw the Lord.

21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you."

22 And [when he] had said this, he breathed on [them] and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain [the sins] of any, they are retained."