John 20:22 - Holy Spirit Power.
John 20:22 (NLT) Then he breathed on them
and said, Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:22 (CWR) As He looked at them, His
heart filled with compassion. Then He took a deep
breath, and breathing toward them, said, Receive
the Holy Spirit until He comes upon you in His
fullness.
INTRODUCTION
This was a preliminary, partial fulfillment
of the promise of chs. 14:16"18; 16:7"15.
The full outpouring came some 50 days later at
Pentecost (Acts 2). [SDA Bible Commentary]
This may have been a special filling of the
Holy Spirit for the disciples, a foretaste of
what all believers would experience from the time
of Pentecost (Acts 2) and forever after. To do
God's work, we need the guidance and power of the
Holy Spirit. We must avoid trying to do his work
in our own strength.
There is life in the breath of God. Man was
created but did not come alive until God breathed
into him the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). God's
first breath made man different from all other
forms of creation. Now, through the breath of
Jesus, God imparted eternal, spiritual life. With
this inbreathing came the power to do God's will
on earth. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Kerry, my beloved mother figure, is an
avid scuba diver. At seventy, she's still going
strong, having logged five hundred hours of dive
time. So when I wanted to do a special one-on-one
activity with my young teen son Pierce, scuba diving
seemed like a great choice because we could also
share it with Granny. I signed us up.
I knew I'd have to face some fears to
scuba dive, but I believed that in Christ I could
do all things (Philippians 4:13). Among other
fears, I experience severe claustrophobia when
breathing deep underwater, loaded down with tanks and
gear. Fear isn't just a mere distraction when
scuba diving. It can lead to panic and in turn,
life-threatening disaster. So I was highly motivated to
combat it with supernatural might. I often use
Jesus's name as a simple meditative prayer when fear
strikes. I wouldn't be able to do that with a
regulator in my mouth. But what I could do was breathe
deeply with my mind focused on Jesus.
Pierce and I passed our checkout dives
with flying colors and have already made a few
trips with Kerry. I now find scuba diving is a
special time to commune with Jesus. Breathing
deeply, enjoying soothing weightlessness in the
water, and beholding creation in quiet splendor is
time with Jesus I've come to savor. Isabella
Campolattaro
Faith Step: Is fear holding you back from
something you'd love to try? Trust in the name of
Jesus to enable you to do it, and then give it a
try. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
The Holy Spirit was not yet fully
manifested; for Christ had not yet been glorified. The
more abundant impartation of the Spirit did not
take place till after Christs ascension. Not
until this was received could the disciples
fulfill the commission to preach the gospel to the
world. But the Spirit was now given for a special
purpose. Before the disciples could fulfill their
official duties in connection with the church, Christ
breathed His Spirit upon them. He was committing to
them a most sacred trust, and He desired to
impress them with the fact that without the Holy
Spirit this work could not be accomplished The
Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in
the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the
impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the
receiver with the attributes of Christ. DA805
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 1:13 - When you believed in Christ
you received the Holy Spirit.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220607-1128.html
Acts 2:38 - Repentance, Baptism And Power.
(updated)
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100604-1018.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657