Pentecost (4)
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25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Last summer I decided to reduce the amount of paperwork I have on the office shelves by scanning past sermons and storing them electronically. This included scanning over 1000 sermons that had been stored in three ring binders. As I progressed, I took some time to read at least portions of those sermons I had written and preached over the years. One thing I discovered was that my memory was not as good as I think it is. At times I did not recall having written certain things. Related to that experience is that I can watch TV shows or movies I have seen and not remember what would happen next or the entire content of the show. I once even read a book all the way through before I realized I had read it before. These are all normal. I’m not losing my mind or suffering from dementia. It is just the way our minds work. There is much that we do learn and remember but also much that we forget or are at least foggy on the details.
This has lead some critics to question the veracity of the Bible and may even cause us to doubt just how accurate every detail is in the Bible. Consider the stories of Jesus’ life as recorded in the Gospels. We are not told that the authors took notes as Jesus taught and in some cases the authors of Mark and Luke for example were not even among the original twelve disciples. Although the Gospels are not dated (the way we may date a letter or our computer automatically dates a Word document), we have a general idea of when they must have been written. Most of them 25-30 years after Jesus’s public ministry. How can we trust that what is written in the Bible is accurate and true?
One way is related to what happened on Pentecost.
The original festival of Pentecost was a harvest celebration taking place 50 days after what?
In the Hebrew Bible, Pentecost is an annual harvest festival that occurs seven weeks after Passover. It became an important Christian holiday after God poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Jerusalem church on the first Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection.
Coincidentally, the Christian celebration of Pentecost also takes place after a different event — the resurrection of Jesus. Because this was a major festival for the Jewish people, it was an ideal time for Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit to be fulfilled. It would give the apostles the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to a large number of people who had come into town from various locations so that when many of them left, they could take the message with them which was important before the days of mass media. Now it could just be broadcast on TV or streaming devices. In those days it could not travel faster than a horse could gallop.
And so, with all those religious people gathered to worship the Lord God, the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place. Jesus had prophesied that this would happen. John 14:26 and supporting passages.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
This itself was a fulfillment of what had been prophesied by the prophet Joel as Peter pointed out. (quote)
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.
First step:
Learn the truths of Jesus. The disciples learned this first hand. They in turn would instruct others. But unlike the ways we learn other information, the Holy Spirit is connected with the Word of God and can remind us of what we have learned and believe. This is why Jesus also instructed his disciples:
11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
How does the Holy Spirit come to us?
We believe that the Holy Spirit uses the means of grace - the Gospel in the Word and Sacraments. It is imperative that we avail ourselves to these so that we can continue to receive him into our hearts. In confirmation class, my pastor used the example of a water tower and how it is connected to the sinks in our homes through pipes. We could also use the example of electric wires and power cables or even the invisible transmission of electronic signals by wifi. The main point is that the source (Holy Spirit) is connected to us.
4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
We can trust the word of God — the Bible because although man wrote it, those who wrote it were inspired by the Holy Spirit. This is the promise Jesus made to his disciples. Peter later would acknowledge this when he writes. 2 Peter 1:19–21 (NIV84)
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
St. Paul’s confession is also familiar: 2 Timothy 3:12–17 (NIV84)
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Conclusion: On Pentecost we recall how Jesus kept his promise and sent his Holy Spirit to the apostles. Filled with the Spirit, they would boldly and accurately teach everything Jesus had commanded them. Some of them were also used by God to write down the teachings of Jesus as did St. Paul. Peter tells us that he did this so that when he was no longer able to remind people in person, what he wrote would remind them and we know that it continues to teach us even today.
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
Conclusion: During our lifetime, we have learned of Jesus and have many opportunities to spread the Gospel so that other can know and believe the truths of God’s Word. Although we are not inspired by the Holy Spirit, when we use the Scriptures he works in other people’s hearts through it. Consider how you can pass the message of the Gospel on to future generations in person or in writing.
