These two verses that report the words of Jesus can seem confusing. Mary Magdalena saw the empty tomb occupied by two angels. The event of the resurrection had not processed in her mind as a fulfillment of Christ’s promise for resurrection. Apparently when he revealed himself to her, Mary reached out toward him. He said not to touch him because he had not yet ascended to the Father. That same day that he was resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples and other followers telling them that he was sending them on a mission. To be able to fulfill that mission, they needed an awareness that the Holy Spirit would be there companion as they started out in obedience. He breathed on them, calling on the Holy Spirit to go with them saying that what sins they remitted or what sins they had not remitted would be part of their interaction with those who benefited from their new ministry.
Let us search out and expanded an understanding of these two verses. Keep in mind, according to Hebrews 7, Jesus was not only the perfect sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world, but he was also the high priest who administered that shed blood before the Heavenly Father. Shortly after the resurrection of Jesus, Mary Magdalene joined in a conversation with him. He admonished her not to touch him because like the priests of the Old Testament he was ceremoniously on a mission to offer his own blood before God. This was not a matter for human intervention (touch). It was strictly Jesus as the high priest who would go before the Father with his own blood that was shed for the sins of many. It was so soon after the resurrection that Jesus had not had the opportunity yet to ascend into heaven so that he might perform his duties as the high priest. Previously he referred to the disciples as his friends. But now he referred to them as his brethren. He also joined himself with those brethren to fulfill a spiritual connection with the Heavenly Father that had not previously existed by jointly referring to God as Father.
After Mary left his presence to share the good news to the disciples, Jesus must’ve gone to heaven so that he might perform the duties of his high priesthood. Then upon his return, he appeared to the disciples who had sequestered themselves for fear of the Jews. After giving physical evidence of his identity by showing his wounds, Jesus issued a commission to his followers that he would send them out into the world. They were emotionally and intellectually stumbling to grasp what had happened in a few short hours. They needed a conviction that was sealed by the Holy Spirit. To demonstrate his confidence in them, they needed the divine incentive because they were granted the authority to remit or retain the sin of those they met. Whatever person would positively respond to their gospel effort would be the person who also was responding to God himself thereby their sins were remitted. W will hatever person would negatively respond to their gospel effort would also be rejecting God. In that case there sin was retained.
The sequence of events that happened in this chapter reveal the work of Christ after his resurrection. He presented his blood before the Heavenly Father as the final and ultimate high priest for the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. Jesus then presented himself to the disciples so they might be convinced of his literal resurrection. To aid in their duties spreading the gospel, the good news of salvation, the Holy Spirit would be there companion. What persons responded to them or did not respond to them determined whether sins would be forgiven (remitted) or they would remain in their sinful condition (retained).
Christian Writer 