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HomeBible CommentaryJohnChapter 20John 20:22

John 20:22 meaning

In a powerful moment following His resurrection, Jesus endowed His disciples with a significant task—their mission to spread the gospel. Central to this event is the impartation of the Holy Spirit, a transformative act symbolized by Jesus breathing on them. This act poignantly echoes the creation narrative where God breathed life into Adam, indicating that Jesus was initiating a new creation through His followers. This moment, described in John 20:22, establishes a profound connection between the life-giving breath of God and the empowerment of Jesus’ disciples for their calling.

While some interpret this breathing as a temporary infusion of the Spirit before the full outpouring at Pentecost, others see it as the start of a new phase of spiritual life for the disciples. Understanding this action leads us to reflect on the broader implications of receiving the Holy Spirit, which enables Christians to fulfill their divine mission. This theme of empowerment aligns with the larger narrative of the New Testament, emphasizing that believers are agents of God's grace, entrusted with the authority to proclaim forgiveness and life through Christ .

Other Relevant Commentaries:

  • Revelation 21:22-27 meaning. There will be no temple in the new earth. God Himself is the temple. We gain a glimpse into life in the new earth, which is vibrant and filled with activity and industry. We also get a warning that some will not be allowed to enter the new Jerusalem.
  • Matthew 20:24-28 meaning. The disciples become upset and embittered at James and John for getting their mother to ask Jesus to give them what they wanted for themselves. Jesus takes this occasion to remind all His disciples that greatness in His kingdom is not lording it over others. It is serving them as the Messiah came to serve — even unto death.
  • Luke 23:22 meaning. Pilate’s Third Attempt to Release Jesus: Pilate attempts to release Jesus a third time and asks the crowd (who is demanding Jesus’s crucifixion) "Why, what evil has this man done?" No response is recorded. Pilate then reiterates Jesus’s innocence and tells the crowd that he will punish Him (by Roman flogging) before releasing Him. This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."