What does "As the Father has sent Me" reveal about Jesus' authority? Setting the Scene John 20:19-21 finds the disciples gathered behind locked doors on the evening of the resurrection. Jesus suddenly stands among them and says: “Peace be with you… ‘As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.’ ” Key Phrase Under the Microscope “As the Father has sent Me” is short, yet packed with meaning: • “As” – the manner, purpose, and authority behind Jesus’ mission now frame ours. • “the Father” – the One whose word never fails (Isaiah 55:11) and whose authority is absolute. • “has sent” – a completed action; Jesus came with an already-established commission. • “Me” – the eternal Son; God incarnate (John 1:14). His sender determines His standing. Authority Anchored in Divine Relationship • Equality with the Sender: John 5:19-23 shows the Son doing only what He sees the Father doing—total alignment that authenticates divine authority. • Full Delegation: John 3:35—“The Father loves the Son and has placed all things into His hands.” Authority is not borrowed temporarily; it is placed permanently. • Obedient Sonship: John 6:38—“For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.” The authority is exercised in perfect obedience, never self-serving. Authority Displayed in Jesus’ Earthly Ministry • Teaching – “My teaching is not My own, but His who sent Me” (John 7:16). Crowds recognized “authority” in His words (Mark 1:22). • Miracles – Works authenticated by the Father (John 10:37-38). • Forgiveness of sin – Only God can forgive; Jesus does so openly (Mark 2:5-12). • Command over nature, demons, sickness, and death – demonstrating lordship over every realm (Matthew 8-9). Authority Confirmed by Resurrection Romans 1:4 calls the resurrection the public declaration of Jesus as “Son of God in power.” When He speaks in John 20:21, He does so as the risen Lord whose victory seals every prior claim. Authority Passed On to the Church • Same Source: Because the Father’s authority stands behind Jesus, and Jesus now commissions His disciples, their mission carries divine weight. • Spirit-Empowered: John 20:22—He “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” The enabling presence of God accompanies the commission. • Global Scope: Matthew 28:18-19 ties Jesus’ universal authority to the charge, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” • Message Continuity: John 17:18—“As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.” The gospel we proclaim is the very word the Father gave the Son. Living Under His Authority Today • Confidence: The mission rests on the unassailable authority of the Triune God. • Clarity: We speak Christ’s words, not our own opinions. • Courage: The One who holds “all things by His powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3) backs every act of faithful witness. • Consistency: Just as Jesus embodied the Father’s will, we embody Jesus’ teaching through obedience and holiness (1 John 2:6). Jesus’ statement—“As the Father has sent Me”—reveals an authority that is divine in origin, demonstrated in life, validated by resurrection, and now entrusted to His followers for the advance of His kingdom. |
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