John 20:21
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus repeats "Peace be with you" not just as a greeting, but to connect His own peace directly to the mission He's about to give them. He's saying that the same authority and purpose the Father gave Him, He now entrusts to them—they are sent out just as He was.
Jesus has just shown himself to his disciples, proving he is alive after the resurrection, and they are filled with joy. He repeats his greeting of peace to them, not just as a simple hello, but as a foundational charge for the mission he is about to give them. This sets the stage for him to commission them as his representatives to the world, mirroring the very way the Father sent him.
Jesus greets his disciples not once, but twice. Why the repetition? It’s more than just a friendly hello; it’s the foundation for a radical new mission.
A Peace That Empowers
Jesus’ repeated greeting, “Peace be with you,” isn’t just a casual repetition. It’s a profound statement of His Risen presence and the peace He brings. After the shock and fear of the crucifixion, Jesus breathes peace into His followers, settling their hearts and minds. This peace isn't just an absence of conflict; it’s a deep inner tranquility that comes from knowing God is reconciled to us through Him.
This peace is the essential starting point for any true ministry. As Bengel notes, it's the "foundation of the mission of the ministers of the Gospel." You can’t effectively share God’s love and truth with others if your own soul isn’t anchored in His peace.
Jesus doesn't just send His disciples out; He sends them out like Him. What does this profound comparison mean for their mission and ours?
The Apostolic Blueprint
Jesus declares, 'As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' This is huge! Jesus isn't just giving His disciples a job; He's identifying them with His own divine mission. He was God’s ultimate messenger, sent to reveal the Father, bring reconciliation, and proclaim truth. Now, He commissions His followers to carry on that same essential work.
Two Sides of the Same Coin:
Understand the original words
eirēnē · Greek Noun
The Hebrew concept of shalom signifies not merely the absence of war, but wholeness, harmony, prosperity, and total well-being in relationship with God and others. In the New Testament, it represents the reconciliation between God and humanity established through Christ.
apostellō · Greek Verb
In a theological context, this refers to the act of commission or authorization by God. It implies the divine initiative in redemption, where the Sender grants authority and purpose to the one being sent to fulfill a specific mission.
This verse is spoken by Jesus to his disciples in the immediate aftermath of his resurrection, directly before his ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It establishes the foundational authority and mission of the apostles, mirroring Christ's own mission from the Father.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Resurrection and Appearances
Following his crucifixion and burial, Jesus appears to his disciples multiple times over a period of 40 days, confirming his resurrection and commissioning them.
c. 30 AD
The Great Commission
Jesus explicitly commissions his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, a pivotal moment for the nascent Christian movement.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ascension
Jesus ascends into heaven, promising the Holy Spirit to empower his disciples for their mission.
c. 30 AD
The Day of Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to speak in other tongues and boldly preach the Gospel, marking the official start of the Church.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' commission, describing the Spirit anointing Him to preach good news, similar to how Jesus, now anointed, sends out His disciples.
John 17:18Jesus Himself prayed that the Father would send the disciples into the world, just as He had been sent, highlighting the continuity of their mission with His own.
Matthew 28:19-20This is the Great Commission given by Jesus, commanding the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, echoing the sending out described in John 20:21.
2 Corinthians 5:20Paul describes believers as ambassadors for Christ, explicitly stating that God makes His appeal through them, which reflects the authority and purpose of the disciples' mission.
barnesJohn 20:21: "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
As my Father hath sent me - As God sent me to preach, to be persecuted, and to suffer; to make known his will, and to offer pardon to men, so I send you. This is the design and the extent of the commission of the ministers of the Lord Jesus. He is their model; and they will be successful only as they study his character and imitate his example. This commission he proceeds to confirm by…
vincentJohn 20:21: "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Hath sent (ἀπέσταλκεν)Note the distinction between this verb and that applied to the sending of the disciples (πέμπω). See on John 1:6.
Jesus repeats "Peace be with you" not just as a greeting, but to connect His own peace directly to the mission He's about to give them. He's saying that the same authority and purpose the Father gave Him, He now entrusts to them—they are sent out just as He was.
Jesus has just shown himself to his disciples, proving he is alive after the resurrection, and they are filled with joy. He repeats his greeting of peace to them, not just as a simple hello, but as a foundational charge for the mission he is about to give them. This sets the stage for him to commission them as his representatives to the world, mirroring the very way the Father sent him.
Jesus has just shown himself to his disciples, proving he is alive after the resurrection, and they are filled with joy. He repeats his greeting of peace to them, not just as a simple hello, but as a foundational charge for the mission he is about to give them. This sets the stage for him to commission them as his representatives to the world, mirroring the very way the Father sent him.
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"Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”" — Jesus repeats "Peace be with you" not just as a greeting, but to connect His own peace directly to the mission He's about to give them. He's saying that the same authority and purpose the Father gave…
