Jesus’ Breath as Church’s Foundational Spiritual Life

The moment when Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit onto His disciples in John 20:22 is a foundational event that establishes the church and connects deeply with the creation narrative in Genesis. This act signifies the impartation of spiritual life, paralleling the way God breathed life into Adam, making him a living being. Just as the breath of God initiated physical life in the old world, the breath of Jesus initiates spiritual life in the new world, marking the birth of the church ([19:12]).

The Greek term translated as "breathed" in John 20:22 is the same word used in the Septuagint for God’s creation of man. This linguistic link underscores that Jesus’ action is not merely symbolic but a definitive impartation of the Holy Spirit. Through this breath, Jesus actively constitutes the church, empowering His followers with spiritual life and authority ([17:12]).

Contrary to the common teaching that the church was only established at Pentecost, the church’s constitution occurs at the moment Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit onto the disciples in the upper room. This event marks the church’s inception as the body of Christ on earth, highlighting a continuity between the Old and New Testaments where breathing signifies the impartation of life and divine purpose ([20:59]).

Immediately following this impartation of the Holy Spirit, Jesus grants the disciples the authority to remit and retain sins. This commissioning demonstrates that the church, now indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is empowered to carry out Christ’s mission in the world. The church’s existence and its mission are thus inseparably linked to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit ([23:11]).

The breathing of the Holy Spirit onto the disciples at the resurrection is the true foundation of the church. This event not only gives spiritual life but also commissions the disciples to continue Christ’s work, establishing the church’s authority and mission well before Pentecost. This understanding affirms that the church’s beginning is rooted in the resurrection, emphasizing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the life and mission of the church.

This article was written by an AI tool for churches.