A Daily Devotion for Friday, August 25

John 20: 21-23

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Jesus breathed on the disciples and filled them with the Holy Spirit. That must have been a beautiful moment. I am not sure about the second half of the reading, and will have to study it today. Maybe Jesus is telling the disciples they will be able to discern when someone is repentant, and so will know when their sins would be forgiven. But do they have the actual power to forgive, because they have the Holy Spirit? If so, we would all have that power. Have you heard the song, "Same Power" by Jeremy Camp? I will listen later this morning.

Holy Lord, your Word is sometimes clarifying, but sometimes confusing. What was Jesus saying to the disciples? Help me to understand this better, I pray. Amen

Becky, transforming