Breathed – Day 8
“[Jesus] breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22
I’ve read this passage many times. I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to be in the room when this happened. What would it have felt like? Would it have been awkward? Did Jesus need a breath mint? Or would the power of the moment be so mind-blowing that all you would remember is the overwhelming presence of the Spirit of God around you?
After this day’s reading, I prayed, “Jesus, breathe on me.” But the last line of the reading stuck in my head: “He is willing to do this for anyone and everyone, especially for those willing to come close enough to feel his breath.” And my prayer changed. “Jesus, move me close enough to feel your breath.”
(The simplicity of the book Pauses for Pentecost can lead us to believe there is a lack of depth. But nothing can be further from the truth. It’s in the simplicity where truth can have its greatest impact.)
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Steve Rogers
Jesus breathed on the disciples his “resurrection breath”. The first mention of the breath of God animating the New Creation Body of Christ, the Church.