May Monday:

This coming Sunday is Pentecost, one of my favorite days on the church calendar, a day when many things happened that make me say, “That is SO cool!” So let’s put on our red shirts and look into Acts 2 this week.

Pentekostē or hēmera (50th day) celebrates the Holy Spirit descending upon the original group of believers. Pentecost is 7 weeks after Easter, but Jewish tradition counts both the beginning and the ending days as full days; hence the 50th day tradition. God’s people would be giving thanks for both firstfruits of the harvest and the day God gave Torah to His people (Shavuos). The believers would have been gathered for worship, prayer, and for these thanksgivings, when God showed up in an unusual way. (It is SO cool when God shows up!)

There was a strong sound from heaven, a sound like wind. But the Bible makes no mention of actual wind – only the sound. Next little flames or “tongues of fire” flitted down and settled on each one of them. And, (verse 4) “everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit.” They had been told to wait for the Holy Spirit, and now He had arrived. It was that simple.

The super-loud wind noise was audible to everyone, and many in Jerusalem came to check it out, both residents and visitors to the city. The visitors were astonished that they heard the believers in their own languages. Some Christians think the disciples were supernaturally speaking in different languages. But my opinion is that their speaking didn’t change – I think those listening were given supernatural hearing, an instant Holy Spirit translator, so that everyone could understand the Good News. Just my opinion - what do you think?

The Holy Spirit story continues with Peter preaching his “Case for Christ” sermon, which led to 3000 being baptized that day. Given Jerusalem’s pools and cisterns it was entirely possible, which also would have been so cool! With the Holy Spirit, the apostles performed miraculous signs and wonders, and each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. And really, isn’t that what Jesus wants us to do?

Norton Lawellin