Pentecost |
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Scripture |
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 6“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. 12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
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Devotional |
As we look at Pentecost, we see the disciples‘ experience of a new commitment in them since Jesus’ crucifixion. This new commitment comes from the experience that Jesus is still alive. Whatever they experienced that day, it was not a direct experience of Jesus because he had ascended into the heavens. They feel him as close as if he were alive. One thing the disciples accomplished that day was to provide a way to keep Jesus alive to generations who would never physically meet him. Their witness to Jesus life and ministry gives future generations their witness and ministry to the life of the presence of Christ. Questions about the future this group surely was asked. “Church leaders like to name Pentecost the "birthday of the Church." Better, I think, to name it the birth of freedom and courage. For it was on this day that the commandment Jesus gave -- "Don't be afraid" -- took root in their lives.” 1 When these disciples stopped being afraid, they began to change the world around them. They were no longer locked away in a small room but took their witness into the public. The birth of freedom and courage changed them into an effective witness to the experience of the risen Christ. I find a birthday celebration is much easier to celebrate. We can find a safe place to watch the parade. From this safe place, we do not need to worry about offending anyone, dreading change, or even facing failure. The disciples reached the point where they were no longer afraid. This was when they experienced freedom and courage. We know the teaching did not die with the teacher. The original group found a way to keep it alive. Now it become time for a new group to experience what it means “do not be afraid.” I celebrate Pentecost with these words from Tom: “ I yearn for the day when Christians will stop being afraid -- afraid of offending, afraid of change, afraid of failure, afraid of going broke, afraid of each other. I yearn for the day when the sheer noise of God's Spirit lifts our spirits and we shout for joy.” The Advocate that Jesus promised came to change the disciples’ life and stayed to continuing changing lives.
1 Tom Ehrich, “Meditation on God in Daily Life” Morning Walk Media, May 25, 2009 |