The days and weeks were unfolding for Jesus as he faced the cross as a vibrant, healthy man in his 30s. Together the disciples were the cream of the crop who would eventually be his emissaries to the world. They began as men who abandoned their jobs and families to follow the man they would eventually recognize as their Savior. Every thought, every lesson they needed to learn was an abundance of teaching from him.
There came a time when he wanted them to become absolutely serious about what lay ahead. Earlier in this chapter the disciples requested Jesus to teach them to pray. They knew the style of prayer taught in the Law. They witnessed how the Pharisees made it a public spectacle of themselves praying whose theme was about how wonderful they were. They had awareness that John the Baptist the Baptist taught his own disciples about prayer. They desired a greater depth in their spiritual life.
Our text reflects an instruction from Jesus. He told them to ask the Heavenly Father to give them the Holy Spirit. Jesus offered his personal assurance that if they did ask, they would receive God’s Spirit. Unfortunately, there is no biblical record that the disciples make such a request. They heard the words but did not understand the meaning. They continued through the rest of Jesus’ life and ministry without any type of prayer to receive the Holy Spirit.
An interesting correlation of this verse seems to relate after the resurrection of Jesus when he was with his disciples who were hiding for fear of the Jews. He allowed them to touch his wounds to verify that he was truly the one who suffered and died on the cross. Then as recorded in John 20:20 Jesus breathed on them. It is reminiscent of what he did when he breathed into Adam to become the first human being that became a living soul.
It is such an interesting parallel between these two verses. The disciples were told to ask for the Holy Spirit but did not. Then as the crucified Christ he breathed on them telling them to receive the Spirit. Originally, they didn’t ask to have the Holy Spirit in their lives. Their failure was compensated by the breathe of Jesus predating the day of Pentecost when at least 120 people were baptized by the Holy Spirit.
He often proved that he was alive but signified the power that was necessary for them as disciples. He breathed on them is a group not individually. Their spiritual life, just like ours, was dependent on him. He gave them a new life to begin an outreach of the Gospel to all the world. It was the proof of the power prescribed to each. Earlier, they had the function of the Holy Spirit upon them. But at that time in the beginning of their new ministry through spiritual blessings, they could be true to their assignments. Jesus gave them the assurance of the Holy Spirit in the future work they would be assigned. They then qualified for the services ahead. To offset their fear of the Jews, the Spirit gave them courage.
The same thing that Jesus said to the disciples he is saying to all true believers. We must receive and submit ourselves to the quickening and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was not just sighing. He was lording it over their fears. He pointed them in a new direction until everyone would know that he was the Savior. We must have the breath of God in our lives, too. We must be empowered by the breathe of Jesus. We cannot ignore this as the disciples originally did in our text. Ours is to ask and receive power so that the fears of this world would shrink in our service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christian Writer 