A sermon on John 20: 19 – 23.
The Gospel of St. John is altogether rich in Trinitarian dimensions. As remarked often, the trinity is a subject which has divided Christendom theologically for millenia, and is also often remarked upon as being hard to understand and bereft of significance to the everyday Christian. It is a mystery certainly, a mystery of faith, but that it is mystery does not mean that we cannot gain understanding of it by faith.
The trinity is at the essence of the salvific mission of Christ. Christ himself acknowledges this, when he tells the Apostles that they may remit or retain sins, prefacing this with a trinitarian statement regarding the existence of the Church. Whilst the synoptic Gospels lead to the Church becoming extant at Pentecost, the Johannine tradition takes a different view, at times seeming to make the Church present through the word, who is Christ. For at verse 23 Christ says “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (Jn 20: 22 KJV). The Johnannine Gospel has a viewpoint where the Church receives the spirit gradually. There is not the singular event of the Lucan account in Acts 2. And indeed, in John it is the Apostolic Church, or at least some form thereof, which receives the Holy Ghost, for we see that He does not send it to the Apostles, but also to the disciples who are gathered with them (Jn 20: 20). It is the nascent Apostolic Church who receives the Holy Ghost. The Spirit proceeds from Jesus here quite distinctly.
Here in St. John, at verse 21, Jesus says that the church is sent, as the Father sent Him. But more, Jesus himself does the sending of the Church, in the SAME way as does the Father. What are we to make of this? It seems here is some more evidence that this nascent Apostolic Church will have Jesus blessing, His presence by missioning, in its work. It is the Church of God because it is the Church of Jesus. Their sending is the same. They are two persons of one nature. The Holy Ghost is with the Church as well as Jesus’ (and thus God’s) blessing. As Jesus and God send in the same way, according to Jesus own words (Jn 20: 21), then both must send the spirit which Jesus sent in the same way.
Now what is the task of this sent Church? To forgive sins. This is why the Holy Ghost is with them. There is no division between the mission of the Holy Ghost, its recension and the charge to remit, and to retain sins. The Holy Ghost will give the Apostolic Church the guidance to discern whose sins are remitted. In the Holy Ghost’s connection with the function of remission of sins, it is clear that it shares a unity of purpose with the sacrifice of Christ. As God shares a unity with Christ who sends the Church to remit sin, it is clear there is a unity of purpose, the salvation of our souls, with these three persons. These three persons have one purpose and one nature.
This is the nature of the trinity, an indivisible unity of purpose which welds three persons so strongly as to share one nature. It is a unity of compassion and mercy, a unity for the salvation of mankind.
What of the difference in account of the Holy Spirits recension by the Church in John? How are we to reconcile the trinitarian mission of the spirit in the church with the account in Acts 1: 5?
It is not inconsistent with the synoptics, but is merely an indication of the growth in understanding of the Apostolic Church. For as Christ talked in parables, that those week in understanding of the sacred mysteries may “see, and not perceive” (Mk 4: 12 KJV), thus the trinity is a shield of faith. The first century church, which spawned the synoptic tradition, did not see but darkly through the glass, but by the time of St. John Jesus’ words had been understood, his action through time perceived, his mysteries unfolded more, so that John would know that “the same was in the beginning with God“, and “was in the world, …and the world knew him not” (Jn 1: 2,10 KJV). Thus we came to see that the Holy Ghost’s action better , as we unfolded why Christ came and whence from.
Therefore let us pray that the trinity continues to unfold its mystery in our life, that in faith we may better see it as it really is, a unity of purpose and nature for the remission of sin. Let us pray that the Holy Ghost, which the Church received will guide us, the people of the Church, in wisdom that we may discern what it right, that our sins and diversions may be forgiven and we might carry the same unto the world. This we ask of the Holy Ghost, in union with God and His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, now and henceforth. Amen.
