The first moments after our risen Lord Jesus met with his disciples were precious in more ways than we at first might think. John recorded them in his Gospel (John 20:19-23 – the sermon text for 19 April 2020).  For Jesus it was less about hugs and smiles and mostly about reconciliation.  First in the sense he deals with their desertion and lack of belief.  He greets them with ‘Peace be with you’.  No animosity at all, but gift.  But secondly, it is also about the significance of his death for them.  Risen from the dead, Jesus makes forgiveness of sin the chief act and therefore gives us the main reason he died. He would dearly have us remember that whenever we don’t feel forgiven or are living with a sense of “I don’t need forgiveness”.  So either extreme, and everything in between.  To really anchor all this he goes on to give two additional gifts:  His Holy Spirit and the most important ministry task of forgiving people their sins.  We see here how it is Christ’s spirit at work to bring us Christ’s redeeming work.  We also have the forgiveness of sins spelt out in case we are not already certain.  We also understand that this is where Jesus commissions the pastoral ministry to keep bringing his and the Spirit’s gifts.  This first order of business remains the continuing order of business until he returns.