My sermon preparation for the 2nd Sunday of Easter has had a profound impact on the way I speak of the mission of the church, the one Jesus gave to his disciples on the evening of Easter, the one first given and fulfilled by Jesus.  It has everything to do with the forgiveness of sin.

“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”  John 20:21-23

Here’s the impact of these verses:

First, Jesus brings a word of peace, shalom. Not just a sense of calm or the absence of hostility, but absolute wholeness and well-being.

Then Jesus sends them as apostles to pick up where he left off. Jesus’ mission is now theirs.

Third, Jesus gives them everything they need to accomplish the mission, the Holy Spirit.

Finally, he defines that mission … his and theirs … as forgiving sins.

Some definitions would be helpful:

Sin is not mostly about doing things that are wrong. Sin defines our broken relationship with God, which leads to any number of other broken relationships in this world. Sin separates us from God, the source of life… and so brings death.

Shalom gets translated insufficiently. Our word peace is just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the Old Testament Shalom involves the forgiveness of sin. Joseph, after receiving his brothers graciously, asks about their shalom and that of their father. (Genesis 43:27-28). The prophets promise a future return to the promised land in terms of the shalom that God will give as he forgives their sin.

Grace often gets used by Christians today as some provision of power to overcome a time of difficulty. God’s love … grace … is expressed over and over again in terms of the forgiveness of our sin. While we were sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

You see, forgiveness of sins, is not something that Jesus also did. It is the essential activity for which Jesus comes. While he is at it … while he gets about the business of forgiveness … he heals the sick and feeds the hungry, calms the storm and teaches disciples. Indeed these are the activities he undertakes to demonstrate His authority to forgive sins! “That you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”  Matthew 9:6

Forgiveness is not the activity we undertake as part of the mission our Lord has given us … it IS THE MISSION our Lord has given us!

• We seek after righteousness, following God’s commands because we have been forgiven.
• We help others in their time of need because we forgive their numerous indiscretions that have resulted in their need (laziness, wastefulness, poor decisions). 
• We share the Gospel not so that people join our congregation, we do so that their sins would be forgiven and they, too, may receive our Lord’s shalom.
• We are patient with our spouse and children and parents and others because we have, first, forgiven the sin that would otherwise create impatience and frustration.