Jesus Appears to the Eleven

Also, when Mark and Luke say that Jesus appeared to the Eleven, they are using this as a title, rather than saying all were there. We are later told that Thomas was absent, as others may have been also.

Eventually, Thomas joined the group and was told of Jesus’s appearance to them. We don’t know how much time had passed. He may have arrived late that Sunday evening. If not, it would have probably been the next day, considering the importance of the event. One wonders what specifically Thomas doubted. He knew Jesus had died and surely, he didn’t doubt the honesty of his comrades. Most likely, like others before, he argued that this must only be a ghost.

John seems to casually drop a fact into the record that puzzles. Jesus breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” He continues, seemingly to give authority to forgive sins. First of all, if the Eleven received the Holy Spirit here, what occurred at Pentecost? Second, does this give the Eleven—and by extension, current individuals—the authority to forgive sin? Different denominations would answer those questions differently.

During the Passover meal, Jesus had told them it was beneficial for him to go because he would then send the Holy Spirit as a companion for them. That promise is universally believed to have been fulfilled at Pentecost. When Jesus says this, there is no reaction on their part. Thus, though it seems a current command, Jesus may be speaking of that future event.

As to the authority to forgive sins, only God can do that. What then is Jesus authorizing here? Most confuse cause and effect as this is read. Our forgiveness is not the cause, nor is their forgiveness of sin the effect of our act of forgiveness. Rather, we are to forgive others whom God has already forgiven. Their forgiveness by God is the cause that should bring about the effect of our forgiveness.