In one of Aesop’s fables a hungry fox notices a bunch of juicy, sweet looking grapes and attempts to reach them. But no matter how he tries, he can’t get them. Since he can’t have them he concludes that the grapes were sour. So now whenever someone puts something down because they can’t have it, we call it “sour grapes.”
It is not true that people disparage Christ because they cannot have him. He says very plainly that whoever comes to me I will in no way cast them out. He is offered freely to sinners. “Come unto me, and I will give you rest,” he promises. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”
It is true however, that when a person rejects Christ, they become hardened toward him. This can be reflected in a multitude of ways. They may persecute his people, or slander his name. They may just be nominal in their faith, never truly coming to him. However it is with them, not accepting Christ on his terms leaves them in a worse place, and like the fox, deceiving themselves about reality.
Our passage teaches us that Christ is Lord of all and the greatest good. He teaches us that forgiveness of sins is greater and better than anything in this world. The context is the evening of his resurrection. Mary Magdalene has reported to the disciples that she has seen the resurrected Lord and conveyed the message the Lord had given her for them.
Nevertheless, we don’t find the disciples rejoicing with anticipation. We find them huddle behind locked doors in fear of the Jews (verse 1). Jesus suddenly appears among them, and I want to look with you at four things he teaches them.
First, he says, “Peace be with you.” He shows them the marks of his crucifixion, and then repeats, “Peace be with you.” The peace means peace with God, but it also means the promise of wholeness in both body and soul. The peace is plainly connected to his death and resurrection. Jesus has accomplished something his disciples can scarcely fathom. It will mean the pure enjoyment of God in due time, accompanied by desire to glorify God. This is always what the peace Jesus means leads to.
Second, Jesus gives his disciples a commission: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” These words mean a lot, but let’s think of two things right off. The peace they are receiving will also be given to others throughout the world. The other thing is that they will also experience rejection by the world. Some will come to Christ, others will oppose him. The disciples will not remain huddled behind locked doors; they will be exposed to suffering and death in the Lord’s service.
The third thing Jesus teaches is that the Holy Spirit will be given to help. The resurrected Christ breathes on his disciples as a promise (verse 22). The apostles were given the Holy Spirit in a special way to corroborate their message as from God. Nevertheless, all those who come to Christ are given the Holy Spirit. We are spiritual creatures. Our spirits are deformed by sin. It is an indescribable gift to be given the Holy Spirit.
We should take from this that the Holy Spirit magnifies, glorifies Christ. Anything or anyone who diminishes the truth of Christ, whether it is with respect to his person on work, is not being led by the Spirit of God. There are many spirits. The Holy Spirit gives the light of Christ, according to the Scriptures.
Last, the resurrected Lord instructs his disciples that forgiveness of sins will come only in his name (verse 23). The disciples will preach Christ and him crucified for the remission of sins. They will teach that there is no other name under heaven whereby men may be saved. The Lord says what they say is the way it is.
There is no back door into heaven. The Lord doesn’t say that people who live decent lives will be sort of be exempted from judgment, surely somehow, someway. No, He says we must be in Him. We must really believe and come to him. Forgiveness of sins is better, greater than anything in this world.
The disciples will no longer fear men. They have passed the tribunal of God in Christ’s name. So they go forth in peace and faith. They live by the power of Christ’s resurrection. We can too.
