Meaning of John 20:22

This verse describes a pivotal moment following Jesus' resurrection where he directly bestows the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, accompanied by a tangible act of breathing. This action is not merely symbolic but signifies a divine impartation, echoing the creation account in Genesis where God breathed life into Adam. Jesus, now glorified, is the source of this new, spiritual life for his followers, empowering them for their future mission. The command to "Receive the Holy Spirit" is an imperative, indicating that this gift is actively given and must be received by faith. It marks the inauguration of the Spirit's indwelling presence among believers in a new and transformative way, preparing them for the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.

Context and Background

The scene unfolds on the evening of the resurrection day. The disciples, still reeling from Jesus' crucifixion and subsequent appearance, are gathered together, likely in fear and confusion. John 20:19 states that the doors were locked because of their fear of the Jewish leaders. Jesus appears among them, first offering peace ("Peace be with you") and then displaying his wounds to confirm his physical resurrection. It is within this atmosphere of awe, relief, and apprehension that Jesus performs this significant act. His breathing on them and commanding them to receive the Holy Spirit is a deliberate act, not an incidental one, occurring before the more public and dramatic outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost described in Acts 2.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Impartation: Jesus, as the resurrected Lord, has the authority and power to impart the Holy Spirit. This is a direct bestowal from the divine source.
• New Creation/New Life: The act of breathing is a powerful metaphor for bestowing life, mirroring God's breath in Genesis 2:7. Jesus is initiating a spiritual new creation in his followers.
• Empowerment for Mission: The reception of the Holy Spirit is intrinsically linked to the disciples' future ministry. The Spirit will equip them to carry on Jesus' work.
• Authority and Forgiveness: While not explicitly stated in this verse alone, the parallel account in John 20:23 links the reception of the Spirit to the authority to forgive sins, highlighting the Spirit's role in the church's ministry.
• The Spirit as a Present Reality: This event signifies the Spirit's presence with believers in a new and indwelling capacity, distinct from his work in the Old Testament.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers today, this verse underscores the foundational reality of the Holy Spirit's presence and work. The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force but a divine person who indwells believers, empowering them for a life of faith, witness, and service. Receiving the Holy Spirit is an ongoing process of yielding to His guidance, embracing His fruit, and utilizing His gifts. It means recognizing that our spiritual life and effectiveness are not self-generated but are a direct result of Christ's work and the Spirit's presence within us. This impartation is the source of our spiritual vitality and our capacity to live according to God's will.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

John 20:22 is a critical bridge between the Old and New Covenants. In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon individuals for specific tasks or periods, but the promise of a pervasive, indwelling Spirit was prophesied (e.g., Ezekiel 36:26-27). Jesus' action here fulfills these prophecies and inaugurates the era of the Spirit described by Jesus in the Upper Room Discourse (John 14-16), where he promised to send the "Helper" or "Comforter." This event is the precursor to the outpouring on Pentecost, which then establishes the church as the new temple of the Holy Spirit. It also aligns with Jesus' own baptism and temptation, where the Spirit descended and empowered him for his ministry, now extending that empowerment to his disciples.

Analogies

• A Seed of Life: The breath of Jesus can be likened to planting a seed of divine life within the disciples. This seed, nurtured by faith, will grow and bear fruit.
• Igniting a Spark: Imagine the disciples as unlit torches. Jesus' breath is the spark that ignites the flame of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to shine with divine light.
• A Power Source: Just as a battery provides power to a device, the Holy Spirit, breathed into the disciples by Jesus, becomes their spiritual power source for ministry and life.

Relation to Other Verses

• Genesis 2:7: "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." This is the foundational parallel, showing Jesus as the source of a new, spiritual life, mirroring God's original act of creation.
• Ezekiel 36:26-27: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." This prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus' action, promising a new indwelling Spirit.
• John 14:16-17, 26: Jesus' promises about the coming of the Helper (the Holy Spirit) in the Upper Room Discourse are directly fulfilled here. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth... But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
• Acts 2:1-4: The subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is the public manifestation and empowerment that stems from this private impartation by Jesus. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place... All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
• 1 Corinthians 6:19: This verse speaks to the indwelling nature of the Spirit in believers today: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?"