John
20:19-31
He
“Breathed” on Them
“When (Jesus) had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.”
He “breathed on them”? That is all they get? Jesus is about to send them off to start a
religious movement which would cover the whole Earth, and he sends them off
with such a breath?
Think about how much has been done
to equip this batch of college graduates!
Today we say farewell to them and send them off into the world to do their
own amazing things. Think of all the tools
and resources they been given? Consider
how much they had to learn and skills they had master before being deemed ready
to be turned lose in the world.
I hear about the work of preparing
them, as their chatter from the LCM Lounge penetrates the walls and reverberates
in my office. These last few weeks, what
I hear talked about often are the engineering students share those pesky senior
design projects. Two of our group were
student teachers this semester. Once again,
I fully understand that we do not pay teachers enough and that they work longer
hours than any employers ought to expect.
While co-ops are not required for every major, they are in graphic
design. The competition to land a co-op
is itself a required developed ability.
It is important, before being sent
out to attempt to do an important task that we be equipped and are given what
we will need in order to meet the challenge. This is what a degree from Clemson University
does. But what about those frightened
former disciples of Jesus? Hiding out in
an upper room out of fear of what the world out there might do to them. Jesus isn’t just paying them a social visit,
he comes to tell them they will now be the ones to carry forth.
“When (Jesus) had said (‘Peace be
with you. As the Father has sent me, so
I send you.’) he breathed on them.”
Is it enough? This breath?
It takes a lot to be ready to face
the world and the world’s challenges.
Not everyone feels prepared in every instance. The chatter I hear from the LCM Lounge rarely
involves being sufficiently prepared to pass the course or get the best grade. It is a desire to be equipped and prepared
for the work to be done in the world. It
is a plea not to be passed on without
being given the knowledge and skill to do what needs to be done. They need to be equipped. And they want to be equipped.
We all do.
What do you need? And I don’t mean merely to do the job which
holds your place in society. What do you
need, in order to take your place among the current disciples of Jesus – sent into
the world to share the Good News? What
might you need to be given? What might
you want to be given, as you are sent, as Jesus sends forth all his disciples?
I do not mean to imply that the
breath which Jesus breathed isn’t enough.
In fact, I hope to help us all understand that it is more than enough.
Let’s look at that word –
“Breath.” It is a rather rare word, used
infrequently in the scriptures. Two
occurrences in the Latin translations of scripture are in Genesis 2:7 and
Ezekiel 37:9.
Genesis 2:7 ought to be easy for
us. What happens in the early chapters
of the first book of the Bible? Genesis
2:7 reads: “The Lord God formed man
from the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Perhaps more might be given to us,
when we are created. But surely nothing
greater could be offered. (I was sort of
expecting an “Amen” when I said that.) Perhaps
more might be given to us, when we are created.
But surely nothing greater could be offered. There are all sorts of things which might also
come, but none of that matters until this first gift is extended and received.
Maybe we would like to have more,
before venturing out into the world, but this breath which God breaths into our
nostrils is quite a gift.
Let’s add a footnote here – about
the epistemology of the Hebrew word for “breath.” It has the same word which also refers to
wind and to spirit. So those references
to the wind blowing where it will and the spirit stirring among God’s people
are also linked to this same encounter referred to here as Jesus “breathing” on
them.
If you are in the habit of reading
my e-devotion, you will know the other reference to “breath”. Ezekiel 37 was the text for this
Thursday. It is the vision of the
prophet in which he sees the valley of dry bones. He is told to prophesy to the bones – in
essence, to use his breath to pour upon them spirit. The “four winds” sweep through the valley and
bone is joined to bone, sinews and flesh are attached. “And they lived, and stood on their feet,
a vast multitude.”
So, you see, this breath is no
small thing. It is a rather big
deal. And at its going forth, great
differences are made.
We may be tempted to think it isn’t
much. Those who wish to scoff could
attempt to encourage us to dismiss or insist for more. But it is enough. It is sufficient. Nothing more is needed.
We receive this breath and we
experience it. This breath is shared
among us and between us. It makes
possible our words of kindness and compassion.
The air we breathe gives us sufficient oxygen levels to put our hands
and feet into action on behalf of others.
Of all the things which might have
prepared us for the work Jesus gives us, none may be as helpful as the experience
of sharing this breath with one another.
We know why a beloved community enlivens those who are downtrodden. And we have experienced how Christian
community shields us from the world’s attempts to drag us down.
“When (Jesus) had said (‘Peace be
with you. As the Father has sent me, so
I send you.’) he breathed on them.”
Having seen how that small group of
eleven has grown into a Christian church in every land and nation, we know how
well that breath equipped them.
This is way we refer to this annual
event as “Farewell and Godspeed.” While
it is painful to say “good-bye,” we know that we are sending forth yet another group
of disciples with all they need to accomplish great things in the world.
You faculty and staff took care of
that on the academic side; UniLu has done it in the realms of faith and
confidence.
You have been “breathed on,” through
the scriptures, sermons, and Words of Institution. Never let worry or fear or anxiety rob you of
the confidence that it is enough. It
isn’t all that Jesus will give us, but it is the first gift and it is the gift
which allows opportunity for everything else to come your way.
Amen.
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