Scripture
After Jesus greeted them he said, “I'm sending you just as the Father sent me.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sin they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins they won't be forgiven.”

Observation
Easter Sunday evening and the disciples are meeting in a locked room. Jesus appears to them and commissions them for mission, fills them with the Holy Spirit and authorises them to forgive sins.

Thomas was absent from the meeting and was sceptical of their report of the risen Christ. A week later Jesus again appears to them, this time including Thomas who now believes.

The gospel concludes with the words, “These things are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him you will have life.”

Application
For true faith we must have an encounter with the risen Lord. It's not enough to have a purely mental assent. We must have a personal encounter with him- like the disciples and Thomas.

It is faith that in Jesus that gives us life- abundant life now and eternal life with God.

Prayer
Lord, I cannot live your way in my own strength. Please change my heart and make me more like you. Amen.