PENTECOST

NOTE: This week, we will study the scriptures in a different order, putting the reading from Acts as our final reading. This is because this day is all about the Holy Spirit, and the giving of that Spirit on the day of Pentecost. That story occurs in the book of Acts, today’s last reading.

ROMANS 8:14-17

THE BACKGROUND

These four verses are jam-packed with goodness!  But to understand them, it is important to understand the cultural lay of the land.  At the time Paul wrote this, about a third of the community was comprised of slaves. They were owned and traded much like they were here in the USA before the Civil War.  Very few were dark-skinned.  The important thing to know that is in a household of a slave owner, the slaves had no rights of inheritance.  Only the owner’s family was heirs to his fortune.  In the event of the death of the owner, the slaves either became the property of the children, or they were sold off.  In the early part of this chapter and in chapter 7, Paul talks about how people are either slaves to sin or free in the Holy Spirit.

THE DETAIL

  • All of us who love and follow the teachings of Jesus are led by the Spirit of God.  And, since we are led by the Spirit, we are now God’s children!  (v. 14)
  • We’re no longer slaves to our sinful ways, but freed by the blood of Jesus. Since we are thus freed, we have been adopted by God as his very children.  (v. 15a)
  • “Abba” is what a Hebrew child would call his father.  It is sort of like our “Dada”, “Daddy”, or “Dad”.  Apparently, these early Christians addressed God the Father by calling him “Daddy”.  This is sweet, and it is sad that we do not do this any longer.  Paul says that when we call God by this familiar name, it is the Holy Spirit working us into a closer relationship with our Father, thus proving that we are indeed His children.  (vv. 15b-16)
  • Finally, Paul reminds us that since we are now God’s children, we are joint heirs in the kingdom, along with our brother Jesus.  Our sufferings for our faith draw us even closer, when this occurs. (v. 17)

THE TAKEAWAY

My brother-in-law goes to a different sort of church than I do.  When he prays, he prays to the Father, and says “father” many times during his prayers. This is a good start, but maybe there is more.  Maybe we should start being less formal and more familiar in our prayers.  Maybe we should start calling God “Dad” or “Daddy”, like our brothers and sisters did many years ago. After all, we are indeed family members.  Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us with this one! 
 

JOHN 14:8-17

THE BACKGROUND

This discussion is part of the long discussion that took place in the upper room during the last supper.  In the verses just prior to these, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going away to prepare dwelling places for them.  Thomas wants to know where he’s going.  Jesus says that he is the way, the truth and the life.  You can’t get to the father except through him. Then he tells them that they have already seen the father, which is puzzling to Phillip.

THE DETAIL

  • Quite logically, then, Phillip asks Jesus to show them the Father, and they’ll be happy.  (He didn’t know that he had just stepped on a land mine!)  (v. 8)
  • Jesus gives him a lot of grief for asking this question, but we learn a lot because of it.  Jesus basically states that since they have seen Jesus, they’ve seen the Father.  Our understanding of the Holy Trinity helps us comprehend this concept, but the disciples were pretty clueless at this point. Jesus makes his point very clear—he and the Father are one.  If you’ve seen one, you seen both of them.  (vv. 9-11)
  • Next, Jesus states that if we believe in him, we are capable of doing everything that he does.  And if we ask for anything in his name, he will grant it.  (vv. 12-14)
  • Here is a key verse:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  Basically, the only commandment that Jesus gave us was to love one another, including our enemies.  When someone told him that the two most important commandments were to love God and love our neighbor, Jesus replied “On these hang all the other laws”.  Jesus broke many of his Father’s laws, but it was always done out of love. Love is number one.  That’s why he came to earth, to make this very clear. (v. 15)
  • Jesus promises that once he leaves, “the Advocate” will come, the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of Truth is being sent to us his believers.  The “world” (non-believers) won’t see this spirit, only us.  (vv. 16-17)

THE TAKEAWAY

With the coming of Jesus to earth, we now get a clear picture of God the Father.  Jesus lived his life as an example of the perfect life—a life full of love for everyone around him.  The only time he was angry was when seemingly pious people clung to the Law of Moses and ignored the Law of Love.  That’s what it takes to make Jesus angry!

He also tells us that although he is leaving, the Holy Spirit is coming.  The Holy Spirit will be with us forever. 

 

ACTS 2:1-21

THE BACKGROUND

This scene takes place in Jerusalem at the time of the Jewish festival called Pentecost.  It was a harvest festival, similar to our Thanksgiving.  Jesus has ascended into heaven.  The disciples are in Jerusalem for this festival, along with a large group of Jews from foreign lands.  That’s when it all happened.

THE DETAIL

  • In the first paragraph, Luke is doing his best to describe this supernatural scene. It was like a wind.  There were these tongues as of fire flying around the room, and resting on the disciples.  It is always difficult to describe supernatural events in everyday language.   The Holy Spirit filled them, and they spoke in “other languages”.  (vv. 1-4)
  • There were Jews from all over the Roman Empire, present for the festival. They were astonished to hear these Galileans (“hicks”, in other words) speaking in their foreign languages.  Who taught them these languages???  They certainly did not learn them in Galilee! (vv. 5-11)
  • Some were perplexed, while others thought the disciples were simply drunk. (vv. 12-13)
  • Peter stands up and begins a beautiful, long sermon.  We only get the beginning of it in today’s passage, but I will give you a peek at the rest.  You can read it for yourself.  It is Acts 2:22-42.  He goes on to explain the life and work of Jesus, his death, and resurrection.  He invites those present to believe in Jesus. Many were baptized that day and in the days following.  (vv. 14-21)

THE TAKEAWAY

The Holy Spirit made a dramatic entrance on that first Christian Pentecost!  The same Peter who denied Jesus during his trial is now full of wisdom and courage, preaching the Good News to everyone who has ears.  This same Spirit is there for us.  This Spirit guides us and urges us in our faith-walk.  The Spirit provides the words for us to do the work of the Lord.  The Spirit gives us strength when we need it.  All we need to do to get this, is ask and listen.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

How has the Holy Spirit made itself known to you? How has it helped you along your faith journey?  Share the experience with those around you.