“Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’ ” (John 20:21-23).

Jesus didn’t need a key on Easter Sunday to get into that locked room where his disciples were cowering in fear. His risen and glorified body that was able to pass through rock and stone earlier that morning was able to pass through clay walls and wooden doors just as easily later that day.

And when he arrived? “Peace be with you.” A soothing, calming tone. A comforting, encouraging greeting. A loving, forgiving message. “Peace be with you.” Not once but twice. No need to be afraid. No need to be nervous. No need to be worried. “You are at peace with God; God is at peace with you . . . because of me,” Jesus was saying.

Receiving a special power

Then Jesus breathed on them. Something special was about to happen. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. And they did. By God’s grace. The Holy Spirit came upon them, strengthened their faith, and calmed their fears. Then Jesus said this: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

The catechism. Confirmation class. Bible information class. We “get” the Ten Commandments. We confess our faith using the words of the Apostles’ Creed. We know about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We say the Lord’s Prayer. But not so familiar? The ministry of the keys.

A risen and glorified Jesus breathed on his disciples and gave them the special power and right to forgive the sins of those who repent and to refuse to forgive the sins of those who refuse to repent. That same risen and glorified Jesus has given us the very same ministry and the very same keys—the loosing and the binding keys.

Using that power correctly

Using these keys properly is the key to parenting; it’s the key to a healthy marriage; it’s the key to a loving friendship; it’s the key to a faithful congregation. Using these keys properly is even the key to the Lutheran Reformation.

Sin and grace. Law and gospel. Confession and absolution. Warning and comfort. Rebuke and restoration. And the key is knowing which key to use when.

To a child, a spouse, a friend, a church member who is no longer bothered by sin or no longer struggling against temptation, we must, in love, point out those sins and warn that those sins are separating him from Jesus.

Using these keys properly is even the key to the Lutheran Reformation.

And to a child, a spouse, a friend, a church member who is beside herself for what she has done (or for what she has done again) and admits that what she has done is wrong, we must, in love, assure that Christ lived and died and rose for her and the heavenly Father fully and freely forgives her in Jesus.

Dear Christian, use these keys. Don’t just hang them up in the kitchen or throw them in the junk drawer or leave them in your pocket. And by all means, please don’t lose them! Use them. Use them faithfully. As Christ would have you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, help me love my neighbors by taking an active interest in their relationship with you. Equip and enable and empower me to speak the truth to them in love. Amen.

Author: Stephen Helwig
Volume 111, Number 10
Issue: October 2024