Lassoing the wind

Linda Pollock February 01, 2024 4 2

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John 20: 19-23 (NIVUK)

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.’ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

The coming of the Holy Spirit in the book of the Acts of the Apostles (chapter 2) is much more exciting than the same event in the gospel according to John. Here, there are no sounds of a violent rushing wind, no tongues as of fire, no multiple languages being spoken all at once. However, I prefer the image John provides because he shows us that Jesus breathed Himself into those fearful followers huddled together in the upper room.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is promised in chapter 1 of this gospel account and, 18 long chapters later, Jesus finally gives His gift in the most intimate way possible namely, sharing His life force with them.

The purpose of this inseparable action is to reveal His union with them. To show that He is in them, and He cannot be taken from them.

Have you ever tried to lasso breath or wind and put it into a jar?

No matter what they face in the days ahead, fear of what others can do to them no longer holds them captive. He cannot be removed from them, He and they are one and because of this truth they can continue His work in the world, they can continue to reveal God as He revealed God.

This truth is our truth too! We are charged to look out at the world as Jesus did. To see as He saw, with eyes full of compassion and a heart full of love and grace. We cannot be Christ Jesus to others if we have not surrendered ourselves to His steadfast love, if we have not allowed Him to breathe His breath into us.

Prayer:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I open myself afresh to You this day and receive Your Spirit. Help me to intentionally receive You daily, that I might look out at Your creation, and love as Christ Jesus loved. In His Name I pray, Amen.