Session 65: John Chapters 19v17- 20v23

Key Points:

19v17 When Jesus died, the Holy Spirit could then come to the Church, to guide it into all truth.

19v33 Jesus’ legs were not broken; per Passover regulations (Exodus 12:46), Jesus was truly the unblemished lamb worthy of sacrifice for the people.

20v21-23 These verses are the basis for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (and a basis of Apostolic Succession.) This is only the 2nd and last time that God “breathes” on anybody, so it’s important!  (The 1st was in Genesis 2:7 where God “breathes” life into Adam; here God “breathes” the Holy Spirit into the Apostles, and gives them, and their successors, the authority to forgive or retain sins.) What sins are retained?  The ones you refuse to confess!!  (To the Protestant, verses 21-23, taken together, make no sense, (Confession to a representative of the Apostles, a priest)  but there they are!