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Commentaries
English
John
  
21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."


When Jesus repeated his "Peace be with you", he did have the atonement of sins and reconciliation in mind, but wished them to become peacemakers to offer full salvation to a vile humanity. On the cross, God forgave all men their sins. This new reality assures pardon for criminals, and the promise of setting aside judgment for believers, and the hope of freedom from perishing. Jesus sent his followers into the world to preach God’s peace to sinners.
All who are saved by God’s grace are changed at heart, and will forgive their enemies, as God forgave them. He will choose to endure unfairness, rather than act unjustly himself. Thus he will spread the aroma of heaven in his own surroundings, as Jesus expressed it, "Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall be called the sons of God." Our aim in evangelism is not to change circumstances or bring superficial peace between nations; rather, we pray for minds to be transformed, and stony hearts changed to tenderness. By such a transformation political changes will occur.
Jesus raised the role of the ministry for his disciples to his standard, "As the Father has sent me, so send I you." So how did God send his Son? First, as a Son, secondly, to proclaim God’s fatherhood, and his holiness by word and deed and in prayer. Thirdly, Jesus was the possessor of God’s word, overflowing with eternal love. In these principles we find the sense and aims of evangelism. By his death, Jesus has made us God’s children, that we may live holy lives, blameless before him in love.
Christians are ambassadors of Christ, justified, sanctified to represent the essence and love of their heavenly Father. This is the substance of their message, that the Father, by the death of Christ, has made them his children. The cross is the condition of their new status, and faith is the way to adoption.
Just as Jesus was born to die a sacrifice, thus too his followers live out the meaning of sacrifice. They do not brag, but regard themselves servants of the Most High and of all people. Their Lord has freed them from their lower selves, to love as he loved.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank you, because you called us, we the unworthy, to glorify the Father and your name by our thoughts, words and deeds. Thank you for forgiving our sins. You sanctify us to broadcast your peace to other hearts, that they may become enlightened and live truly. Thank you, o Christ, because you have made us sons of your love, so that we may love and forgive, as you did in mercy.
Question
What is strange about the sending out of the disciples?