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May 4, 2016
John 20:21-22
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”   And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
New International Version (NIV)
               After Jesus told Martha that he is the Resurrection and the Life, he asked her, “Do you believe this?”  How about us?  Do we believe that Jesus Christ emerged victoriously from the tomb after he arose from the dead?  In my library I have Mike Licona’s gigantic and helpful volume on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Licona concludes, “No matter how much one may loathe the idea that Jesus rose from the dead and fantasize about other outcomes, the historical bedrock remains the same …. Jesus' resurrection is the best historical explanation of the relevant historical evidence."
                John does not put forth an argument to prove the resurrection.  Instead he tells the stories of real people like Peter and John who ran through the cemetery to find the empty tomb.  Mary would not leave the cemetery and when she saw Jesus she did not want to let him go.  Thomas struggled to believe but when he did he trusted Christ completely and profoundly.  The risen Lord meets all of us where we are offering abiding peace and purpose.  Our God is the sending God.  He sent his Son who sends his Spirit who sends us.
                The irrefutable proof of the resurrection is the transformation of our lives through Jesus Christ.  Imagine Jesus who had breathed his last breathing again.  They felt his breath as he told them to receive the Holy Spirit.  I sang these beautiful words with the people of God as I grew up in worship:
Breathe on me, Breathe on me
Holy Spirit, Breathe on me
Take Thou my heart
Cleanse every part
Holy Spirit, breathe on me. 
Pray with me: 
Father, thank you for not only promising peace but giving it to us your Son.  Send us out today in the power of your Spirit to offer resurrection life to a dying world.  Like dry bones in a valley, we ask that you would breathe on us until we live.  In the name of the Risen One.  Amen.
Scripture reading for today: 
John 20

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