John 20:21 kjv
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
John 20:21 nkjv
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
John 20:21 niv
Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
John 20:21 esv
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."
John 20:21 nlt
Again he said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you."
John 20 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 20:21 | "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." | Jesus' Mission |
| John 17:18 | "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." | Prayer for Unity and Mission |
| Matthew 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." | The Great Commission |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." | Empowerment for Witness |
| Luke 24:47 | "...and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed..." | Gospel Proclamation |
| Romans 10:15 | "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" | The Messenger |
| 2 Corinthians 5:20 | "We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." | Ambassadors for Christ |
| Ephesians 2:10 | "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works..." | Purpose in Christ |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others..." | Stewardship of Gifts |
| Acts 3:26 | "God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you..." | God's Sending |
| Galatians 4:4 | "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son..." | The Fulfillment of Time |
| Hebrews 3:1 | "Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in the heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession..." | Christ as Apostle |
| John 1:14 | "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | Incarnation |
| John 13:34 | "A new command I give you: Love one another..." | Command to Love |
| 1 John 4:17 | "In this love we are made perfect, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment..." | Confidence in Love |
| 2 Timothy 1:7 | "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." | Power of the Spirit |
| Matthew 10:40 | "Whoever receives you receives me..." | Receiving the Messenger |
| John 14:12 | "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing..." | Doing Christ's Works |
| Isaiah 61:1 | "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me..." | Anointed to Proclaim |
| Jeremiah 1:7 | "But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, "I am too young." You must go to everyone I send you to...'" | Commissioned Prophet |
John 20 verses
John 20 21 Meaning
Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses. He sent them, just as the Father sent Him, to proclaim God's message. This implies a divine authorization and a specific mission entrusted to them.
John 20 21 Context
This verse is spoken by Jesus shortly after His resurrection, addressing His disciples. They are gathered, likely in a state of shock, confusion, and possibly fear, following His crucifixion and subsequent reappearance. The immediate preceding verses (John 20:19-20) describe Jesus appearing to them, showing them His hands and side, and imparting peace. This specific statement, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you," occurs within this post-resurrection appearance, setting the stage for the disciples' ongoing mission and ministry. Historically, the early church, founded on the apostles' witness, expanded the reach of the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Theologically, it underscores the continuity of Jesus' divine mission, now extended through His chosen representatives, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
John 20 21 Word Analysis
- Peace (Eirenē - εἰρήνη): This Greek word signifies more than the absence of conflict; it encompasses completeness, well-being, prosperity, and tranquility. It reflects the peace of God that surpasses understanding. Jesus' first greeting, "Peace be with you," is a bestowal of divine peace upon His disciples, a peace that comes from reconciliation with God through Him.
- Jesus said (eipas autos - εἶπας αὐτός): "Having said" or "saying." Jesus speaks these words directly to His disciples, establishing the authority and origin of the mission.
- again (palin - πάλιν): This repetition signifies a renewed or second instance of this declaration of peace, reinforcing its significance.
- to them (autois - αὐτοῖς): Refers to the disciples who were present.
- As (kathōs - καθὼς): "In the manner that," "in accordance with," "just as." This crucial conjunction links Jesus' mission from the Father to the disciples' mission.
- the Father (ho Patēr - ὁ Πατήρ): Refers to God the Father, emphasizing the divine source of Jesus' authority and the model for the disciples' mission.
- sent (apestale - ἀπέστειλε): From apostellō (ἀποστέλλω), meaning "to send off," "to dispatch," "to commission." It implies a formal sending with a specific purpose and authority. This same root gives us the word "apostle."
- me (me - με): Jesus, the Son of God.
- even so (houtōs kai - οὕτως καὶ): "In this way also," "likewise." Further emphasizes the parallelism between Jesus' commission and the disciples'.
- I am sending (pempō - πέμπω): From pempō (πέμπω), another Greek word for "to send." While apostellō implies a commissioning, pempō often relates to the act of dispatching or sending forth. Together, these terms highlight the authority and active engagement of the mission.
- you (humas - ὑμᾶς): The disciples, and by extension, all who believe in Jesus.
Group Analysis:The phrase "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you" is a foundational statement of apostolic authority and missional mandate. It establishes that the disciples' mission is a direct continuation of Jesus' own redemptive work, reflecting the same divine authorization, purpose, and sending by God the Father. This establishes the disciples as representatives or ambassadors of Christ.
John 20 21 Bonus Section
The sending of the disciples by Jesus, as articulated here, carries with it the authority of Jesus, and by extension, the authority of the Father. This authority is not for personal gain but for the proclamation of God's kingdom and the salvation of souls. The Greek term "apostle" (from which "apostle" derives) literally means "one who is sent." Thus, every believer, in a broader sense, is "sent" into the world as a representative of Christ. The Holy Spirit, promised later in John's Gospel (John 14:26, 16:7-8), would equip them for this mission, enabling them to do the "greater works" (John 14:12) Jesus spoke of, which includes the expansion of His kingdom globally.
John 20 21 Commentary
This verse encapsulates the essence of the Great Commission. Jesus, having completed His earthly ministry and secured salvation through His death and resurrection, now commissions His followers to carry on His work. Their mission is not self-initiated but divinely ordained, mirroring Jesus' own submission to the Father's will and sending. The disciples are empowered and authorized to proclaim the message of repentance and forgiveness, reflecting Jesus' own ministry of reconciliation. This mission continues today through those who are sent forth by Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is a mission of love, reconciliation, and life transformation, mirroring the selfless sending of Jesus Himself.