Acts 2:1-21
When we think about the day of Pentecost, we think about the gift of the Spirit upon the church-- and of course that it true. But it was a Jewish harvest festival long before it was a Christian holy day. In fact, that is why the disciples and Jews from all over the world were there in Jerusalem in the first place—to celebrate the harvest festival of Pentecost and give thanks to God for the fruits of the earth.
And the really miraculous and wonderful thing about God’s timing is that this harvest festival was transformed by the sending of the Holy Spirit into a harvest of souls that has been celebrated and lived out in the church for the last two thousand years.
On this Pentecost festival, we will see that: 1. the gift of the Holy Spirit is given for the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world—2. that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all believers so that we can have a part in Jesus’ mission—3. and that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given in preparation for our Lord’s return so that many can call on the name of the Lord in faith and be saved. St. Luke writes that:
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were…filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance…And at this sound the multitude came together…And they were amazed and astonished, saying…how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
In our Old Testament lesson for today we hear the story of the Tower of Babel and how the Lord confused the languages of the world. What may not be readily apparent is that this judgment of God was as an act of his mercy.
Humanity was headed in a direction that would lead them farther and farther away from God. Their technological achievements led to a pride in themselves that lifted them up (in their own minds) almost to the place of God. But before they could fall farther into sinful pride, God stopped them by confusing their language.
What happened on Pentecost thousands of years later was the lifting of that curse on account of what Jesus did in his death and resurrection.
The curse of Babel-- and the judgment of God on man’s sin-- was laid upon Jesus-- who really did bridge heaven and earth by joining God and man together-- not by human hands reaching up into heaven—but by Jesus Christ coming down into this broken world and being nailed to a cross—atoning for our sins.
What God divided at Babel on account of man’s sin-- he united on Pentecost on account of Christ’s sacrifice for sins-- and at just the right moment, thousands of people from all over the world heard the message of salvation in Jesus miraculously being preached in their own language by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It was no accident that the gift of God’s Sprit came upon the church on the Jewish harvest feast of Pentecost so that something much more valuable than crops could be harvested—human souls.
It was no accident that Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims so that at just the right time the Gospel of forgiveness could be proclaimed to as many people as possible.
It was no accident that people from all over the world were there so that the message of Christ’s peace could be taken to every place as they returned home.
The God of creation doesn’t do accidents—then or now. We exist at this place and time and with the gifts and abilities that we have been given so that by the power of that same Holy Spirit WE can join in this Pentecost harvest miracle of sharing Christ with the world for the salvation of souls.
Much too often, we have a tendency to look at what we don’t have when it comes to the mission of Christ-- instead of believing that the same Spirit is still present among us--equipping us perfectly for our part in his mission.
We are where we are- and we know what we know- and we have what we have- so that we too can proclaim Jesus to our part of the world as Savior and Lord—a message that is for all people.
St. Luke writes that, assembled there in Jerusalem that Pentecost festival there were people from all over the world who hear about Jesus in their own language: And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
What does this mean? That is a question that people are still asking about Christians—maybe not the meaning of rushing winds and tongues of fire—but the meaning of our Christian lives and faith and message.
What does it mean that Christians teach there is only one way to God when the world believes that there are many? What does it mean that Christians will lay down their lives in martyrdom rather than deny Christ? What does it mean that Christians think very differently about moral issues than the rest of the world when the world believes that we should live and let live? What does it mean that Christians care for and love not just their friends and family but also their enemies when there is so much hatred in the world?
These questions that the world around us has about the meaning of our lives and faith and our message are our God-given opportunities—our Pentecost moments-- to share Jesus Christ with those around us.
The apostles had an opportunity to proclaim him to the people of the surrounding nations—but not to folks from South Texas—that’s our job for this time—and the gift of God’s Spirit was given for that very purpose—to proclaim Jesus Christ with clarity and courage where we are-- because still today, there are people who will ridicule our faith and call into question our proclamation of Jesus just like that day. St. Luke writes:
Others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea…these men are not drunk…But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
“This isn’t from God—they’re just drunk”. Scorn and ridicule. It is always going to be that way to one degree or the other when we call people to turn form their sins and trust in Jesus.
The Bible tells us that the message of Christ is ridiculous to the unbelieving world and it’s the height of foolishness to those who are perishing in their sins to believe that their salvation is found in a humble man who lived two thousands years ago.
Only God can change hearts like that! That is why God’s gift of the Spirit is so important—both to those who speak and to those who hear!
God the Holy Spirit empowers those who speak the Gospel and fills their proclamation with the power of God himself so that hearts that are dead in sin and trespasses are made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit-- and what they once regarded as the height of foolishness—Jesus--becomes instead their life—and those believers who once shrunk back in fear-- step forward to bear witness to Christ.
That is what we see so clearly in the life of Peter from Pentecost on. Just a few short weeks before Pentecost, Peter denied Jesus because he was too afraid to answer a little girl’s questions but now, with the gift of the Holy Spirit, he was transformed into a powerful witness for Christ.
The Good News for us is that the power and presence of the Holy Spirit was not just for the twelve disciples-- but is promised to all of God’s people. God promised through the prophet Joel:
In the last days…I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
From the moment that we are baptized and come to faith in Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. That is how we believe in Jesus in the first place! That gift is strengthened and sustained in us again and again as we hear God’s Word and receive his sacraments. And it is a gift for all people.
The gift of the Spirit is for young and old. It is for men and women. It is for people in every station in life no matter how humble-a promise that the power and presence of God himself dwells in our lives regardless of age, or gender, or status.
That promise was fulfilled on Pentecost and the privilege to speak about Jesus on behalf of God—to prophesy--was given to all Christians.
All Christians need to be about the Lord’s work because the events of our Lord’s death and resurrection—his ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit-- ushered in the Last Days—this time of grace in which the church has lived for the last two thousand years, calling the world to come to Christ and be saved while there is still time.
The saving mission of Jesus Christ is why we exist as individuals and as a congregation at this moment—it is why all of God’s people are gifted with the Holy Spirit—so that we might be the Noah’s of our day, warning people of the wrath of God’s judgment to come, but also, and especially, inviting them to trust in Jesus and be saved before it is too late. St. Luke writes of that day when the time of grace will come to an end—a time when there will be:
wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below…before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
God wants everyone be saved-- but for that to happen people must call upon Jesus in faith. That is why God has given the church the gift of the Holy Spirit—so that the saving Name of Jesus would be proclaimed to the ends of the earth-- so that people can know him and believe in him and call upon him and be saved.
For thousands of years, it was sufficient for salvation to believe in the Messiah to come. But when the second person of the Trinity entered into history and took on flesh and blood in the person of Jesus of Nazareth-- it was necessary for salvation to believe in a particular person who was born in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth and preached in Galilee and died and rose again in Jerusalem.
To be saved it is necessary for people to call upon the name of Jesus in faith-- and the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost so that Jesus could be proclaimed for the salvation of the world. The same is still true today--salvation comes only by faith in Jesus.
As the day of our Lord’s return in glory grows ever closer and the day of grace draws to an end--we thank God for his gift of the Holy Spirit—a gift that is given to all believers so that Jesus can be proclaimed for the salvation of the world and a rich, abundant harvest of souls be gathered in. God grant that we would all do our part in his mission. Amen.
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