Blessing by Breath

Blessing by Breath is our worship theme for the second Sunday of Easter, April 15, 2012. Our focus scripture is John 20:19-29.

This passage contains the familiar story of Jesus appearing to his disciples on the first day of his resurrection. Earlier Mary Magdalene had encountered him outside the tomb. And now, although they are hiding from the religious authorities behind locked doors, Jesus suddenly comes and stands with them. Only Thomas is absent. But when the other disciples tell him what has happened he refuses to believe it unless he can also examine the wounds he knows Jesus has received. Then, of course, Jesus appears a week later and grants his request.

In our service on Sunday, however, we will focus less on Thomas and his difficulties believing and more on Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit into his followers. Jesus does this for a reason. He is sending his disciples to continue his mission. “As the Father has sent me,” Jesus says, “so I also send you.”

In his long sermon following the Last Supper, Jesus has told his disciples that they will be given a new Advocate, even the Spirit of truth. This Spirit will come to their aid as they build Christ’s body of believers and as they suffer the same persecutions that the world has given him. Now the risen Christ breathes this promised power and presence into his followers. With it comes authority. His disciples will now have authority to forgive sins. Even as they fear the same religious and political powers that executed Jesus, they are given a divine authority of their own that far surpasses anything they could expect.

In our time, we are a continuation of that original body of believers, and we need Christ’s gift of the Holy Spirit no less than them. The risen Christ breathes into us. How do we breathe with him?  

Here is a Call to Worship based on scripture passages about the breath of God. Please feel free to use or adapt anything in this post which is helpful to you. 

Call to Worship    The Breath of God  

From Genesis 2:5-7, Job 32:8, Ezekiel 37:9, John 20:22, Ephesians 4:15-16,Psalm  150:6

L: Sisters and brothers, the breath of God is life-giving!

P: When God made the earth and the heavens nothing was yet growing… Then God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul.

L: The breath of God gives wisdom and discernment!

      P: But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding.

L: The breath of God gives new life!

P: Then God said, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man. Say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”

L: The breath of God instills God’s Holy Spirit!

P: Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

L: The breath of Christ energizes the Church!

P: We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do...

His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so we grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

L: Let us give thanks to God for the gift of breath!

    All: Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.