The Breath of Life

Dear Christa—

“And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’”  (Jn. 20:22a).

As the disciples sat fearful behind locked doors, Jesus came to them. No longer hindered by material structures such as walls and doors, he came.

Last week—Easter Sunday—as Mark preached on this passage, I couldn’t help but think of another time that God breathed on man—way back at the beginning—before Adam laid eyes on the tree of life, before he gazed up into the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, before he ever knew fear, “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen. 2:7).

How awesome is that?

The breath of God breathes life—life so unique, life so precious, so wonderful.

And after Adam put away life, Jesus put away death—and walked right through walls to fearful people, and He breathed on them.

He breathed life—life beyond walls and fear and the whole physical world.

In this world of fear, we still need His breath—the salvation that brings the Holy Spirit within our very being to dwell within us. I cannot fathom such a thing.

To set aside fear—

To put away walls—

To breathe—

Everyday, breathing life everlasting—

And Jesus told them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Oh, to take a breath and see the plan He has for us this day!