“Receive the Holy Spirit!” John 20:22
Jesus appeared to His disciple on the day of His resurrection and said, “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus showed them His hands and side, again blessed them with the words, “Peace be with you” and sent them out to the world breathing on them the words, “Receive the Holy Spirit!” What Spirit? We read in Genesis, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth……….. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2 That Spirit was now given to disciples as Jesus appeared to them on that resurrection day we know as Easter.
Earlier, much earlier in the ministry of Jesus, a man named Nicodemus sought out Jesus in secret. He was there to find out who Jesus truly was.
Jesus responded with what appeared to be a riddle to Nicodemus, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said how can a man be born again? Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Yes, we along with the disciples receive the Spirit that hovered over waters of the creation. Luther puts it this way, “…The Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the one true faith.” “Receive the Holy Spirit!” We are sent! Peace be with you!
Question: Where do we hear again about Nicodemus?
Answer: Nicodemus defended Jesus in John 7 and with Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Christ from the cross and buried him.
