Jesus committed what some thought of as blasphemy when he acted to forgive sins: (Mar 2:5-7 NKJV) - "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
He taught his disciples the parabel of the sower and the seed. We've all heard about how some seed fell on good soil, other seed on hard ground, some was taken by birds and some choked by concerns of the world. He also taught why he spoke in parabels: (Mar 4:11-14 KJV) - "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word."
In John 20 we see the risen Christ who continues the mission that He was given. He had previously appeared to Mary Magdalene and said, "go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.
After ascending He came to his brethren and says, "(Jhn 20:21 KJV) - "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." It was then that he said, (Jhn 20:22-23 KJV) - "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."
Let's review: Jesus was sent by God. During his three year ministry he forgave sins. After He was risen, Jesus said that He was ascending to "His God" and to "Your God". When he appreared to his disciples he commanded them to, "Take the Holy Spirit with them (as their companion) and that He was sending them even as He was sent.
The word recieve in, "Recieve ye the Holy Ghost" (KJV) is the key element of the message and that together with the fact that he was sending them to continue his mission became the essence of the message of our Risen Christ. Yes, our prayers are answered because we pray according to the Will of the Father and this we do by the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things.
When we look at the meanings of the words translated "Recieve" and "Remit" there ---> another mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven is revealed. Divorce from sin and acceptance of the Holy Spirit was being preached by the Risen Christ. It is the same message we hear in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.