Sunday, May 24 is Pentecost Sunday. Many people who identify as followers of Jesus Christ, even some of those who celebrate Pentecost Sunday, really do not know what they are celebrating.
So what is Pentecost Sunday all about? Why is it celebrated? Does it have any meaning for Christians and the church of today?
Pentecost Sunday is celebrated because of the events recorded in Acts 2:1-4. “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all in one place. ( 2) And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting, (3) And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. (4) And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (languages -God’s. Word, New Living Translation) as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (English Standard Version)
Following this, the apostles went out and started telling everyone about Jesus and the Good News of his love and provision for the forgiveness of sin. Acts 3:41 reposts that about 3,000 people believed the Good News and were baptized. Let’s look briefly at the wind and fire!
Historically, wind and fire have been symbolic of the presence of Yahweh God! In Old Testament times, God, presented himself to Moses in the fire of a burning bush (Exodus 3). Later, as Moses was leading the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, their route took them to Mount Sinai. Again, God spoke to Moses in the wind and fire, giving them the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20). Later still, when the Israelites built a permenant tabernacle on that same mountain, God showed up in a huge column of fire.
God’s presence is marked by wind and fire.
Historically, wind and fire have been symbolic of the presence of Yahweh God! In Old Testament times, God, presented himself to Moses in the Fire of the burning bush (Exodus 3). Later, as Moses was leading the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, their route took them to Mount Sinai. Again, God spoke to Moses in the wind and fire, giving them the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20). Later still, when the Israelites built a permenant tabernacle on that same mountain, God showed up in a Huge column of fire. God’s presence is marked by wind and fire.
Following Jesus’ accension, his disciples returned to Jerusalem to an upper room. The first chapter of Acts tells us that while there, they devoted their time to prayer. After devoting their time to fifty days of prayer, something spectacular happened! The Holy Spirit of God visited them in fire and a mighty wind and they were each filled with the holy presence of God!
There are several important things going on here. We will get to those.
Following Jesus’ death, the bewildered apostles returned to the upper room in Jerusalem to try to figure out what was next. They had no map or script. They did not have the book of Acts to guide them. The book of Acts was yet to be written. So they began to do what they had seen Jesus do when he was faced with uncertain situations. They began to pray.
Apparently they must have prayed for about fifty days. Sometime during those days of prayer, they began to empty themselves of their confusion, their frustration and their uncertainty. Maybe they were to continue the work of Jesus? Maybe they were to start teaching what Jesus had been teaching, what Jesus had taught them during their three years as his disciples?
But how could they do that? They were men from Galilee. They were simple men, not learned men like the priests of the Temple. They weren’t knowledgeable about the history and teachings of what we now call The Old Testament.
They remembered the command from Jesus to “go into all the world and teach them…” But they hadn’t traveled very far from their homes. Yes, they had followed Jesus, but that was about all. They had no understanding of what life was like in other parts of the world. They didn’t know anything about travel. They certainly didn’t speak nor understand the languages of other parts of the world. To obey Jesus they would need help. A lot of help!
The word “pentecost”, a Greek word, means fiftieth, or fifty days. Fifty days after the celebration of Passover and fifty days after the ascension of Jesus into Heaven, the Holy Spirit came over those gathered in that upper room and empowered them to carry on the work that our Lord had started! To do that, however, they would need a crash course in foreign languages, or, the Holy Spirit would need to intervene somehow. Apparently God had decided to send his Holy Spirit in a way that would cause each of the apostles to become multilingual. Acts 2:3: “tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” So what was that all about?
Jerusalem was filled many visitors from many different countries, each speaking the native language of their home country. It was necessary that the apostles be able to speak these different languages if they were to carry out the command of Jesus as found in Matthew 29:18-20. “…Jesus said, ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (20) Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.’”
There was an important event that happened before this. When Jesus was crucified, the massive curtain that separated all of the Temple, all of Israel, for that matter, from God’s dwelling place—the Holy of Holies—was ripped from the top to the bottom. Now, God was no longer separated from the human race! The prophesy and promise recorded in Exodus 29:45 was fulfilled. “Then have them make a holy place for me, and I will live among them.”
What was that holy place? The human heart, or spirit. Before God’s spirit could dwell in the human heart it had to be emptied of itself, its pride, self-ambition and self centeredness. “Ezekiel 37:27 states, “My dwelling place will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Paul described the condition of the human heart as following, (1) “Brothers and sisters, I couldn’t talk to you as spiritual people but as people still influenced by your corrupt nature. You are infants in your faith in Christ. (2) I gave you milk to drink. I didn’t give you solid food because you weren’t ready for it. Even now you aren’t ready for it (3a) because you’re still influenced by your corrupt nature. (16) Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him because God’s temple is holy. You are that holy temple! -1 Corinthians 3;1-3, 16-17.
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature.” -Galatians 5:24-25.
The Word of God teaches that in order to experience the indwelling presence of Jesus, you must, with the power of Jesus, get rid of all sin, all your infantile carnal attitudes and living. When that happens you are a candidate for the presence of the Holy Spirit. And that is what prepared the way for the Holy Spirit of God to find a proper holy dwelling place .
What else happened after the wind blew and what looked like tongues of fire rested over the heads of each of the apostles? Acts 2 tells us that “(5) Devout Jewish men from every nation were living in Jerusalem. (6) They gathered when they heard the wind. Each person was startled to recognize his own dialect when the disciples spoke. (7) Stunned and amazed, the people in the crowd said, “All of these men who are speaking are Galileans. (8) Why do we hear them speaking in our native dialects?’ (40) Peter said much to warn them. He urged, ’Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ (41) Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to the church.”
3,000 people became followers of Jesus because the apostles readied themselves to obey Jesus!
The truth is, every person who calls himself/herself Christian has the same assingment as did the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. Every Christian is called to be a wiriness, to tell others about Jesus, to teach them to also become followers of Jesus.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is not for a feel-good, personal pleasure and joy. It isn’t a test of a person’s spirituality. And it certainly doesn’t give a person bragging rights. The Holy Spirit comes into a person and fills that person so that she or he can be obedient to Jesus’ command: “So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. ‘And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.’” -Matthew 28:19-20.
The Day of Pentecost marked the moment God’s loving people, God’s church, began a new world. The Day of Pentecost marked the beginning of the true Church of God! “I have also made you a light of the nations so that you would save people all over the world.” -Isaiah 49:6b.
(1) “Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him, This kind of worship is appropriate for you. (2) Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.” -Romans 12:1-2.
How are you going to celebrate the Day of Pentecost?
Happy Pentecost!
(For further reading: Colossians 3:1-17; James 4.)
