Key “great sending” passages of st. john

For God did not send (apŏstĕllō) his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. —John 3:17

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (apŏstĕllō).

—John 17:3

As you sent (apŏstĕllō) me into the world, so I have sent

(apŏstĕllō) them into the world. —John 17:18

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent (apŏstĕllō) me, even so I am sending (pĕmpō) you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive (aphiemi) the sins of any, they are forgiven (aphiemi) them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

— John 20:21-23 (Author’s note: As Christ was sent, He sends to send (remit) away sin.)

Besides the focus in John’s Gospel and the Resurrection and Ascension sending accounts at the end of the Gospel story, we can also compare the key sending words in Luke 4:18-19 spoken by Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry (in the light of John 3:17, John 17:3, 18, and John 20:21-23). The verses read: 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. —Luke 4:18-19 

With emphasis and additions, we see in greater context the sending words at work:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent (ἀποστέλλω) me (and I am here) to proclaim liberty (aphiemi, which can also mean “release,” “freedom,” “pardon,” or “dismissal”) to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty (apŏstĕllō or aphiemi) those who are oppressed (apŏstĕllō or to send away the crushed into freedom, release, or deliverance) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.