19-21 The impartation of 'peace' - שלךם - is also about establishing a place of rest: the gift of יהךה to His people. The bringing of the people to the place of 'peace' is the outcome of the Covenants of God. Getting to the place where God wants us to be. The place of fullness of righteousness and justice, healing and deliverance, faith, hope and love.
Here, there is the sense of the deeper, covenantal purposes of God through His people (Genesis 12.1-3), to bring blessing to all people in the world through Abraham.
The specific mention of both 'hands and side' evokes both the imagery of the paschal lamb (John 1.29 - the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world) and also that of the top lintel and doorposts smeared in blood (Exodus 12.1-3).
22-23 The act of 'breathing' the Holy Spirit evokes Deuteronomy 30.6 and especially Ezekiel 36.26-26 & 37.9ff., where the Holy Spirit's powerful presence and impartation brings restorative, reviving, renewing life and empowerment to God's people.
v 23 and its reference to forgiveness of sins may seem strange, unless it is taken with the preceding verses. To grasp the full sense of forgiveness we need to realise that forgiveness issues in reconciliation and restoration. We need to root our understanding of forgiveness beyond individualistic perspectives, into a fuller and more holistic OT way of thinking. It speaks of the calling of the people of God to bring God's wholeness and 'peace' to others. That the purposes of the people of God is to bring glory to God, to reflect His character and to exhibit His ways. It is the very ministry of salt and light into a world that is lost in savour and life. It is to be a people who are heralds of hope and harbingers of healing.
Now, this is about a message; but also a lot else besides. It is about who we are. How we behave. How we relate to others. Whether we Are interested in people as people at all.
24-31 A cause to live and die for?
27 - μη γινου απιστος αλλα πιστος
The text is clear. The challenge is, 'stop being unbelieving and instead, be believing'
So easily, we have a deficient understanding of the Christian life. Where it is diminished and debased into a philosophy, a way of thinking, a perspective in understanding life.
But faith in Jesus is far more than an opinion or perspective on life. Faith to enter into a way of Being. It is a commitment to a cause, a response to a rallying call.
Thomas understood this. he needed to be sure that the resurrection had actually happened. Because He realised how utterly radical and different from normal, religious living the Christian life of following Jesus truly is. There is a huge cost and disruption to normal living in becoming a disciple of Jesus: it is about purposely participating in his life, ministry and victory. And it is not a way that brings security and fulfilment according to the standards of this world.
