John 20:19-23 (NRSV)
Read John 20:19-23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Verse 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Verse 21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Verse 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Verse 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Devotion
This is the Pentecost story according to John. In this story the disciples didn't have to wait 50 days. The risen Christ literally breathed into them the Holy Spirit that first Easter night. The disciples were gathered behind locked doors. They were afraid. They didn't know what to do or which way to go. What inspired this rag tag group of followers to go out and witness to the world that God raised Jesus from the dead? Jesus showed up and blessed them. Jesus breathed into them. Then he sent them.
God does the same thing for us. God breathes into us on the first day of the week, gathers us around word and sacrament, and then sends us out to be witnesses of the son's resurrection. Jesus didn't leave us orphaned after the ascension, but promised to be present in a new way.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit. Amen.