Image from newlifehugo.org
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine." 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. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘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. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Acts 2:1-21 NRSV)
May the favor of the Lord be yours today, dear Friend! May this time spent with God's word bless you and prepare you for today and all days.
This coming Sunday many call the birthday of the Church, for on it God acted in a mighty way to empower the Church for its witness and work. It happened in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, which commemorated the 50 Days after Moses received the Law from God. It was a very powerful Jewish holiday to remember all God had done in freeing them from slavery then blessing them with the Law. Pilgrims from all over the known world would come, if they could afford it, to celebrate this important day. It was a day of celebration and remembrance. With a huge crowd in the city, the stage was set for what came next.
The disciples were still in the Upper Room in prayer. Still bewildered about all that had happened to Jesus, they really didn't know what to do, except to be faithful to the words that Jesus said for them to wait in Jerusalem. Then suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven and filled up the Upper Room. They saw "tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them." Twelve disciples, representative of the twelve tribes, all now having tongues of fire resting on them. What happened next was a miracle. Each of the twelve "began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." It is very interesting to note that "God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven" were present and each of them heard in their own language, hearing the wonders of God being declared. This was true among Jews and converts to Judaism. They could not understand what this could possibly mean. Some tried to blame liquor as the cause of this unexplainable act, to which Peter addresses them responding with scripture that on the last days God would pour out His Spirit on all people (From the OT book of Joel). The prophet had said that sons and daughters would prophesy, young men would see visions, and old men would dream dreams. He also said how God's Spirit would be poured out in those days (and this is the day!) and God would show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below; "blood and fire and billows of smoke." Even what Jesus had said to the twelve is from the Old Testament prophet, "The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood and fire and billows of smoke." This is "before the coming of the of the great and glorious day of the Lord." And the great statement, that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
This was a day of power. God demonstrating in an almost reversal of Babel, that all tongues/languages could be used to speak of His Glory and Grace. One lady during an explanation of this declared, "This is God saying, 'Whatever it takes...'" to spread God's love and power to all people. The Pentecost event serves as a model and inspiration for the Church and for the people (us) that make up the church. We are called to reach all people in whatever manner relates to them. What language do the pre-church people speak or understand? How can the Church learn the languages in ways that instruct and invite? And, how can we show the contagious excitement about God and His work in our midst? And how can we begin to tell the stories of what God has done in our lives? When we do, then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, as Sunday approaches, be with us in ways that prepare us to celebrate the coming of Your Holy Spirit. May He bless us to faithfulness and fruitfulness. Teach us the languages of others so that we can inspire and invite them to our faith. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Sing praise to the Lord in languages that bless others.
Blessings of love,
Eradio Valverde
