Jesus gave instructions to his disciples after his resurrection. On the subject of forgiveness he said, "'If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained'" (Jn 20:23). How can an ordinary person do this? The scribes saw Jesus heal a paralytic and heard him say, "'My son, your sins are forgiven'" (Mk 2:5). They thought to themselves "who can forgive sins but God alone?" (:7). Jesus responded saying "'the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'" (:10). Then when Jesus met with his disciples after the resurrection he stated, "'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth'" (Mt 28:18). With this authority "He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (Jn 20:22). Therefore the Holy Spirit would enable them to forgive sin in the name of Jesus. Jesus told them "'behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high'" (Lk 24:49). You wear clothes, so therefore power becomes a personal covering. Elijah was a prophet and "a man with a nature like ours" (Ja 5:17). He had a mantle (robe, garment) and "threw his mantle on [Elisha]" (1Ki 19:19). It represented God's actual power because "Elijah took his mantle . . . and struck the waters and they were divided here and there" (2Ki 2:8). Elisha also when "he took the mantle of Elijah . . . and struck the waters . . . they were divided here and there" (:14).