The Festival of Pentecost
Fellow believers in the promises of God,
This Sunday marks a major shift in the Christian calendar. It is the Festival of Pentecost or The Coming of the Holy Spirit, which marks the last Sunday in the "festival half" of the church year (Advent--Ascension). But it's not just a major shift for us, it was also a major shift for Jesus' disciples when Pentecost first happened.
With the arrival of the Holy Spirit, God brought about a major shift in how He would deal with people. As the Word made flesh (see John 1:14), Jesus had bodily represented His Father to the world during his 30+ years on earth. As we observed last week, however, a shift occurred forty days after His resurrection when Jesus ascended into heaven in order to now represent the world before His Father. What a beautiful picture to consider and a wonderful shift to celebrate.
But with Jesus ascending, our temptation is now to think our God is now so far away. He's "up there" while we struggle "down here." And yet, nothing could be further from the truth which is what Pentecost reminds us of and invites us to celebrate. Another beautiful shift occurs as Jesus sends what He promised: His Holy Spirit to be our constant companion during these last days.
This shift leads us to ask an important question, however: If God reveals Himself during these end times by His Holy Spirit, where is the Holy Spirit to be found? When Jesus walked the earth, locating God's revelation to mankind was simple. It was anchored to the person of Jesus Christ. Now that God reveals Himself and His work by His Spirit, where do we go to listen to, witness, and learn from Him?
Thankfully, God has never left the answer to that question in doubt. When Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, He indicated that His work would be connected to words. Words given by the Holy Spirit which His prophets and apostles were inspired to record and which Jesus promised to preserve. When Jesus sent His Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the disciples went to work with words. Words which we now read and study, words which are connected to water and bread and wine. Words which are spoken in Christ's stead and accompanied with His authority to forgive sin and release sinners from their guilt.
While God could deal with us any way He chooses, "we ought and must constantly maintain this point, that God does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through the spoken Word and Sacraments" (Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article VIII). This is why we gather at Prince of Peace week after week. Not to do something or give something or offer something, not primarily anyway. We gather for God to deal with us as He chooses. And this is what He chooses: to deal with us by His Spirit working through words of comfort and peace and to feed us with food that lasts unto eternity.
What a reason to celebrate and gather and feast together this Pentecost Sunday. I look forward to doing just that with you all again this week. Blessings on your weekend!
In Christ,
Pastor Bater