Why Foreign Missions? 18b. John 20.20-23 and Mission of the Disciples in John’s Gospel In the following short study, [1] I will suggest a possible explanation for what unites the three verses of John 20.21-23 with their three foci of mission, receiving the Holy Spirit, and the forgiveness of sins. The passage reads as follows in the New Revised Standard Version : John 20:20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them [2] and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (NRSV). My suggestion is that these verses are both theologically related and appear to be based on an Old Testament passage, Ezekiel 36-37. This Old Testament background brings