John 20 21

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 verses

John 20 21 Meaning

John 20:21 is a pivotal statement from the resurrected Jesus, commissioning His disciples for their future mission. It begins with a profound offering of peace, essential for their spiritual and emotional state, and then immediately establishes their divine mandate. By stating, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you," Jesus directly links His mission, which originated from God the Father, to the mission He now entrusts to them. This signifies that their work is not merely human endeavor but a continuation of the Missio Dei (the Mission of God), carrying the same divine authority, purpose, and ultimately, the same challenges that Jesus faced. It serves as the foundational apostolic commissioning for the nascent Church, underscoring both their empowered role and the profound responsibility they bear as Christ's representatives.

John 20 21 Context

John 20:21 occurs on the evening of Resurrection Sunday, following Jesus' first post-resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene and subsequently to His disciples, who are gathered behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish authorities. This verse is nestled within a crucial sequence of events. First, Jesus suddenly appears (v.19), greets them with "Peace be with you" (v.19), shows them His hands and side (v.20) to confirm His identity and reality of the resurrection, and repeats His greeting of peace (v.21a). Only after assuring them of His presence and peace does He issue the pivotal commission of v.21b, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." This sets the stage for the next action in v.22, where He breathes on them and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit," which is presented as the essential empowerment for this very mission.

Historically and culturally, the Jewish concept of shaliach (apostle/emissary) is significant. A shaliach was not just a messenger but one who acted with the full authority and identity of the sender. The sender's honor was conferred upon the shaliach. The fear expressed by the disciples indicates a climate of severe religious and political tension where association with Jesus carried high risks. Jesus' greeting of "peace" (εἰρήνη, eirēnē, mirroring the Hebrew shalom) was more than a mere salutation; it conveyed holistic well-being, wholeness, and a divine gift after their turmoil and sorrow, preparing them for the profound responsibility He was about to lay upon them.

John 20 21 Word analysis

• So Jesus said to them again: This emphasizes a repeated action. The first "peace" greeting was in John 20:19. The repetition underscores the importance and certainty of the peace He imparts. The "again" signals an emphasis before moving to the central commissioning.
• 'Peace (εἰρήνη, eirēnē): In biblical context, eirēnē (derived from the Hebrew shalom) is far more than the absence of conflict. It denotes wholeness, well-being, health, prosperity, reconciliation, and right relationship with God and others. It's a comprehensive blessing that addresses the disciples' inner turmoil, fear, and sorrow over recent events. It is a state bestowed by the divine presence, providing inner stability despite external chaos.
• be with you: A standard Jewish greeting, yet from the resurrected Christ, it carries divine power and actualization. It's not a wish but a declaration and impartation.
• As (καθώς, kathōs): This crucial conjunction indicates an exact comparison, pattern, and basis. It implies an exact similitude, suggesting that the disciples' mission will share the same nature, purpose, authority, and perhaps even experience as Jesus' own mission from the Father. It is not "how" (the specific mechanics), but "why" and "by what authority" and "with what essence."
• the Father: (ὁ πατήρ, ho Patēr) Refers to God the Father, the ultimate source of all divine mission and authority within the Trinity.
• has sent Me (ἀπέσταλκέν, apestalken): From apostellō (to send with a commission/authority). The perfect tense signifies a completed action with continuing results – Jesus was sent, and that sending continues to define His being and mission. It highlights Jesus' divine origin and authority as the one commissioned by the Father for a specific purpose. This is the root of the word "apostle."
• I also (κἀγώ, kagō): The kagō ("and I" or "I also") places direct emphasis on Jesus' personal authority and His direct continuity with the Father's sending. It underlines that Jesus, having completed His mission and resurrected, now holds the authority to send others.
• send you (πέμπω ὑμᾶς, pempō hymas): From pempō (to send generally, sometimes with a commission). While apostellō often implies a higher, specific commissioning, pempō here carries the weight of authority due to the preceding kagō and the context of comparing it to the Father's sending. Jesus, by virtue of being sent by the Father and conquering death, now possesses the authority to delegate His mission and commission. "You" (ὑμᾶς, hymas) refers specifically to the gathered disciples, who would form the nucleus of the apostolic witness.

John 20 21 Bonus section

• Indirect Polemics: By stating, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you," Jesus indirectly counters any claims that might question His authority or the divine origin of His mission. It distinguishes the apostles' mission from any self-proclaimed religious leadership or mere human wisdom, rooting it firmly in the Triune God. It challenges any contemporary Jewish interpretations of Messianic figures or divine messengers that did not acknowledge Jesus' unique divine relationship with the Father.
• Authority in Mission: The parallel "As...I also..." bestows immense authority upon the disciples, and by extension, the Church. They are not merely spreading good advice but delivering divine truth and acting as authorized representatives. This is not an authority for personal gain or self-promotion, but for faithful stewardship of the Gospel and the expansion of God's kingdom.
• Model for Discipleship and Leadership: This verse serves as a fundamental model for all Christian discipleship and leadership. Every believer is "sent" to some degree, in various callings, to bear witness to Christ. Pastors and church leaders, particularly, are called to remember that their authority and mission are derivative of Christ's, and must always be exercised in faithful representation of His character and purposes, never independent of Him. It defines a leadership that prioritizes service, sacrifice, and obedience, mirroring the life of Christ who was sent.

John 20 21 Commentary

John 20:21 is a foundational truth for Christian mission, presenting the missio Dei—the mission of God—as a unified stream flowing from the Father, through the Son, to the Church. The initial blessing of "Peace be with you" (repeated from v.19) is vital; it addresses the deep fear and distress of the disciples after Jesus' crucifixion, offering them spiritual and emotional restoration as a necessary prelude to their calling. This divine peace, originating from the Prince of Peace Himself, transcends mere worldly comfort and equips them inwardly for the task ahead.

The subsequent declaration, "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you," establishes a profound analogy. It defines the disciples' mission not as a self-initiated endeavor but as an extension and continuation of Jesus' own divine work. This means their sending carries the same divine authority, authenticity, and ultimate purpose as Christ's sending by the Father. Their role is to represent Jesus faithfully, just as Jesus represented the Father perfectly. This representation implies sharing Jesus' message, embodying His character, demonstrating His love, and even experiencing rejection and suffering as He did (John 15:18-20). The power and content of their message, therefore, are derived from Christ, making them His authorized agents and ambassadors for the kingdom of God (2 Cor 5:20). It’s an equipping for global evangelism and discipleship, laying the groundwork for the church’s future expansion as depicted in Acts, fueled by the Spirit (v.22) for the proclamation of salvation.