The International Bible Lesson (Uniform Sunday School Lessons Series) for Sunday, March 22, 2015, is from John 20:19-23. This posting and podcast includes both the International Bible Lesson Commentary and the International Bible Lesson. The International Bible Lesson Commentary is now available in five different Bible translations on the International Bible Lessons Commentary website: these versions are the English Standard Version (ESV), King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New International Version (NIV), and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).  Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further follow the verse-by-verse International Bible Lesson Commentary. The Study Hints for Discussion and Thinking Further discusses each of the Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further to help with class preparation and in conducting class discussion: these hints are available on the  International Bible Lessons Commentary website along with the International Bible Lesson that you may want to read to your class as part of your Bible study using the easy printable lesson. To help your class review the lesson, links to an easy printable Word Search Puzzle, a Crossword Puzzle, and a True and False Test are also available below. To listen to this commentary a podcast is available by subscribing and by clicking on the audio links here on the International Bible Lesson Forum.

(John 20:19) When 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.â€

Early Sunday morning, the first day of the week, John wrote that Mary Magdalene, Peter, and probably himself as the author of this gospel saw the empty tomb of Jesus, but they did not understand the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from the dead. Later, two angels and Jesus spoke to Mary, and she told the disciples what they said. That same evening, Jesus appeared to His disciples in a locked house and spoke to them. The disciples were afraid of the Jews who might come and arrest them too, so they had hidden behind locked doors. Jesus had promised He would leave them with His peace (John 14:27). So, when He appeared to them in the house His first words were, “Peace be with you.†Jesus greeted them and gave them the same peace that quieted the storm when they were storm-tossed and feared death in a boat (Mark 4:39). They needed His peace once again to quiet all of their fears regarding His sudden and unexpected appearance as well as the Jews who had crucified Jesus.

(John 20:20) After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He did not rise as a ghost as the disciples thought of ghosts (Mark 6:49). Jesus rose in a glorified human body that still showed the marks of His crucifixion, but He was also able to pass through walls and appear and disappear as He willed. Just as the disciples rejoiced when they saw Jesus calm a storm as a real person, so they rejoiced when they saw Jesus again as their Lord and as a real person.

(John 20:21) Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.â€

Jesus again gave them His peace. Jesus can still the storms outside of us, and Jesus can quiet the fears and storms within our hearts and minds. The Father sent Jesus forth for ministry after Jesus had received to the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that He would send them forth for ministry as He had been sent forth – after they had received the Holy Spirit. Their ministry would proclaim primarily the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus to save His people from their sins and grant believers in Him eternal life and the filling of the Holy Spirit, who would abide with them forever.

(John 20:22) When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit came to them from the Father through Jesus as He promised. This was the first time that the disciples received the Holy Spirit, because Jesus’ death and resurrection enabled them to be not only forgiven for their sins but also cleansed from all their sins – Jesus’ death and resurrection made them morally and spiritually clean so they could receive the Holy Spirit. Later, they would receive the Holy Spirit as the Power from on High who would empower their ministry. Because they knew the Holy Spirit from Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on them before His ascension into heaven, they recognized their baptism with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday was actually a filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). The Holy Spirit would fill them often for ministry and preaching (Acts 4:8; 4:31).

(John 20:23) If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.â€

On the one hand, Jesus gave this command to His original disciples, who would lead the Church and be responsible for Church government and discipline in New Testament times. The way they governed the Church would become a model for all the Church leaders who followed them, for all who had the responsibility of governing a church. Sincere repentance for sin and a return to faithful obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord according to the Scriptures were conditions that sinners must fulfill to be forgiven. If people repented and placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, they fulfilled the conditions set forth in the gospel to be forgiven and receive eternal life. If people persisted in disobedience and rebellion against God, they retained their sins and Church leaders would acknowledge that fact for the sake of the Church and all concerned. On the other hand, Christians need to forgive personal sins or wrongs against them for their own spiritual well-being; however, unrepentant sinners retain true moral guilt for having wronged another and they need to repent and ask forgiveness from those they have wronged when this can be wisely done. Christians recognize that those who have sinned against them and have not repented or asked for forgiveness are retaining their sin and guilt by their own choice to not repent. Consider also, Matthew 18:15-35.

1. How many disciples saw Jesus on Resurrection Sunday?

2. How did Jesus get into the locked house?

3. What did Jesus show His disciples?

4. What two blessings did Jesus give His disciples?

5. How did Jesus give His most important gift to His disciples?

Study Hints for Discussion and Thinking Further, a study guide for teachers, discusses the questions above to help with class preparation and in conducting class discussion. These hints are available on the International Bible Lessons Commentary website.

The Word Search Puzzle, the True and False Test, and the Crossword Puzzle below are provided from the International Bible Lessons Commentary website to help teachers provide a simple review game or quiz for their students. May you find them helpful.

John 20:19-23

An Educational Take Home Review and Handout using Key Bible Lesson Words.

John 20:19-23

An Easy Review Test to Help Students Remember the Bible Lesson

John 20:19-23

An Easy Review or Handout to End Your Class

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost†(John 20:21-22—KJV).

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’†(John 20:21-22—NRSV).

Before Jesus died on the cross, He promised His disciples that He would not leave them orphaned. On Easter Sunday evening, Jesus appeared to His disciples as they hid behind locked doors afraid they might be arrested and crucified too. Jesus showed them His side and His hands and then gave them two gifts. First, Jesus gave them peace. His peace is not as the world gives, which is only a temporary pause in hostilities. Jesus gives peace that can quiet a violent storm or calm a trembling heart. Second, in answer to His prayer to His Father, Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit. As their Advocate and Comforter, the Holy Spirit would remain with them and in them forever, just as He does today in the life of everyone who trusts in Jesus. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit remained with His disciples and they came to know Him better. Because they had come to know the Holy Spirit, just as they had come to know Jesus, they rejoiced even more when the Holy Spirit clothed them with power from on high and filled them on the Day of Pentecost just as Jesus promised (see Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; ). Just as the Father had sent Jesus in Holy Spirit power, Jesus sent His disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim boldly the good news about Jesus and His love. Furthermore, Peter proclaimed that the Holy Spirit would abide in everyone who repented and believed in Jesus (Acts 2:38-39). – L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

Begin or close your class by reading the short weekly International Bible Lesson. To print the International Bible Lesson in three different sizes (including large print size and bulletin size) and for the Teacher’s Study Hints for Five Discussion Questions andThinking Further, go to the International Bible Lessons Commentary website.

See the recommended Bible study, Recovery, and Worship Resources at SmallChurchResources.com.

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