What's So Great About Pentecost?

It’s Pentecost; we know that because the calendar says so and we keep repeating it all morning. But what does that mean beyond history, tradition or opinion; what does it mean for everyone sitting here right now?

Here’s how I’d like to answer that question. First, we’ll read the text and then we’ll look at it to see what Luke has to tell us – from his point of view. Finally we’ll draw some conclusions.

So, bearing in mind that we read the first part of the story already – the tongues of fire and whatnot. Here’s the next section; the one we’ll focus on.

¹⁴ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵ These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

¹⁷    “ ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

¹⁸    Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

¹⁹    I will show wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

²⁰    The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

²¹    And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Peter preaches his first sermon and in fine style quoting a prophet to give the whole thing a foundation.

It’s been quite a day. The disciples have been speaking in tongues; everyone has been hearing the gospel in their own language (2.11). Everyone wants to know what it means. By the Spirit, Peter makes the connection with Joel.

Joel’s prophecy was written about 400 years before this event took place. That probably doesn’t mean much. Try imagining North America back then: Jamestown Virginia was established as the first settlement here. In Holland the Cannons of Dort weren’t written yet; the Dutch East India Company was just founded, but not the Hudson’s Bay Company in Canada. The point: When Peter quotes Joel he’s touching on a longing that goes back a long time. Even more than 400 years. The longing to see the Spirit of God freely available to all; the longing to see God set things right and bring judgment. They called it the Messianic Age. A time of witnessing to the reality of Yahweh, God leading up to the final judgment. We often call it the Last Days – same thing.

So verses 17-18 announce that the day has come, came 2000 odd years ago with Jesus’ resurrection. The Messianic Age or Last Days have begun. It is the time of prophecy, visions and dreams in which the first disciples lived and so do we. Receiving the Spirit is the sign and mark of membership in the people of God.  The mark of true faith. When the Spirit is given men, women, young and old are given the gift of speaking the truth about God in ways their audience can understand. Just like the disciples were doing in the moment.

Our present time is marked by the presence of the Spirit. The dreams, visions, and prophecies serve to prove the presence of the Spirit and to draw the individual into a direct experience with God. Remember, in the old system the people needed priests to approach and experience God. No longer the case; God is doing something new. Something even bigger than Joel imagined.  The Spirit’s outpouring on Israel was expected, but as we know from the book of Acts, God’s gift is poured out on the Gentiles as well.

Verses 19-20 then go on to the second part of Joel’s prophecy. And this part deals with what has not happened yet, but will happen on the day of God’s choosing. Following the period of witness comes the final Word by God on sin and righteousness. The language is descriptive but not literal. All over the Bible fire and billows of smoke are standard ways to talk about God’s near Presence. Think of Abraham and the Covenant, Exodus and the Mountain, think of God leading his people in columns of fire and smoke.

And blood: think of the first plague on Egypt: the Water turned to blood; think of Ezekiel 32.6, again speaking to Egypt, “I will drench the land with your flowing blood all the way to the mountains, and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.

Certainly not literal, but very descriptive, very clear, very terrifying. In the bible, blood always refers to judgment for sin. And the moon and sun? As elsewhere in Joel, the darkening of the sky represents the undoing of creation (cf. 2:2, 10). God redeeming is from the very foundations laid in Genesis 1.14-19. The groaning of Creation.

For Joel the day of the Lord was not just about judgment or salvation; it was all about the coming of God to deal with people. For some this means life; for others it means death (2 Cor 2:14-16)[1].

Verse 21 is the first line of the last part of Joel’s prophecy.

And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Peter stops there because the connections are made. Jesus has defined history. God’s grace and human responsibility.

These are the last days. The time from Adam to Jesus is over; the time between Jesus first and second coming is now. We are living in the time of Jesus rule from heaven. The Day of Pentecost announces the out pouring of the Spirit in power and judgment; God is near to grant life or pronounce death.  Small wonder from day one the church urgently spread the news of Jesus.

God is near; Jesus is coming back; time is short.

I frequently wonder if I have the same passion. I wonder do I rely too much on the notion that God will assemble his people and needs no real help. God is in total control after all. But then, why do we have so much of the New Testament that urges action, speaking out and self-sacrificial love in Jesus’ name? Check the New Testament letters, there are two basic themes: 1 – share the good news; 2 – live pure lives showing gratitude to the one who saves.

Do you ever wonder those things?

I think we should; truly I do.

As far as the early Christians were concerned, the pouring out of the Spirit established that the end of the ages had come. If the Spirit had come down, it was only a matter of time before the fire would come down too.

What about today?

If we wish to be a Biblical community, then the starting place has to be the Day of Pentecost and not 17^th century debates on predestination. Disciples of Jesus believe God is sovereign, but they also believe that they have been blessed to receive the Spirit in order to be a blessing in the world. Helping people to “Call upon the name of the Lord.” Not a desperate prayer in a crisis, but true faith built upon God’s saving work and call, a person’s true confession, repentance and passion to share Jesus with others.

What is the message of Pentecost for believers living 2000 years after the fact? Well, because the text clearly tells us that we are living in the time of witness; because the reality of Jesus’ return is guaranteed; because no one knows about that day or hour, of His return. Because of all that, who do you know who needs to hear about the God who loves and saves?

Who needs to turn from folly and foolishness?

Who needs to repent secret sins and embrace the life the Father gives?

Who needs to take responsibility for the hurt or harm they cause others through their lifestyle or business practices?

Who needs healing from that harm?

Who do we love enough to try sparing them from the fire?

Implying of course we believe there will be fire that will either purify or destroy.

Pentecost has given believers much to consider over the years. Is the quality of my life reflecting the presence of God’s Spirit in me?

The Lord asks not perfection but passion. Passion for His Son and the Life He died to give.

Are we bold to ask that question and to obey the answer the Spirit gives?

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[1] ¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ¹⁵ For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?