The Day of Pentecost

Richard Davenport June 5, 2022 - Pentecost Genesis 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel isn't a story we talk about all that often, but, in many ways, it is even more etched into history than events like the Passover, which we talk about here all the time. Building a tower to the heavens is a theme that gets repeated throughout ancient myth, just like many ancient cultures have a story of a flood that wipes out life on earth. The Passover, though it is a major event and is an extremely important point in history of God's people and his salvation of the world, it was still something that only affected a small portion of the world. Only the Egyptians, the Israelites, and the few people groups the Israelites encountered on their way to the settling in the Promised Land showed any evidence of knowing about the Passover and the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea. The whole rest of the world is completely oblivious. And later, when some word of it comes out as Jews are scattered around the world through the exiles, those that hear are not people who were ever affected by it. On the other hand, the Tower of Babel affected the entire world, just like the Flood had just before it. The fallout from Genesis 11 is something we all still deal with. Just think, a world where everyone spoke the same language. Granted, there were a lot less people at that time, but still, what an amazing place. How much of what we do around the world is hampered by the need to communicate. It's a constant frustration for individuals, for organizations, for nations, and even for the church. Thankfully, many schools these days make a point of teaching at least one, if not more, foreign languages to kids. It's a good exercise and one that will hopefully be a benefit to them since it gives them access to a whole group of people they might otherwise have no way to talk to or interact with. Still, one language, even if it's a language spoken by many people, is still just a small portion of all of the people out there. Imagine what we could do if language was no longer a barrier? You'd still have different cultures, different traditions, different ideas and ways of thinking, but now they could all be shared freely. There is a lot of philosophy and science fiction that ponders the idea of a utopia, a paradise on earth where violence and hatred are unknown and everyone lives at peace with everyone else. Beyond common ideals is the need for a common language. No one can resolve issues with those around them if they do not speak the same language, so that must be the basis for any perfect community. It's a nice idea, but it's been tried many times without success. Utopias simply do not exit. Perfect societies can't exist because the people who make them aren't perfect themselves. Like trying to build a clock when all the gears you have are chipped and cracked, it may run for a little while, but eventually it is bound to break down. It's not so surprising that people might try and build a perfect society. It's something we all dream about to one extent or another, perfect peace in this world. Even when we have the evidence of all of the previous attempts, people keep trying. Why? Because this time we can do it better. This time we won't make the same mistake those guys did or plan as poorly as those other guys. We'll do it right and we'll make sure it's right right from the beginning. The problem with those who think this way is the same problem those who gathered together in the plain in Shinar had, pride. Behind all the talk of helping people, benefiting humanity and all of the other good things people try and do when they come together is the desire for fame, they pride they take at being the ones to finally figure it out. They'll be the ones who have accomplished something no one else has managed to do and it's one thing we are all looking for. Over all of this, people are looking for control. That's what Babel is all about. The story tells us about a tower and that's what people usually think of when they hear the name. But the goal wasn't the tower. The goal was to have some kind of monument, some enduring edifice that the people would rally around and would keep them from all going their separate ways. That's what all of this is about. It's something we struggle for all our lives, control. We want control over how our lives go, what we do and what happens to us. You may not need a big monument to your accomplishments, but that isn't necessarily the point anyway. You want control over the world around you. You want to be able to determine how and where you will succeed, what sorts of things will happen and when. You want to be successful at your job and business ventures. You want to keep your family together and put to rest any divisiveness. You want to manage illnesses when they strike, or, better yet, keep them away entirely. You want to avoid death, or, at the very least, have a say in where and when you will go. Unfortunately, control over the world is one of those things we as sinners have given up. The connection we have with the world around us has been severed ever since Adam and Eve brought death into the world. We try all of our lives to carve out some tiny bit of control, thinking that safety, comfort, and happiness will follow. But, it never happens. Adam and Eve weren't safe because they had control either. Everything they had was given to them. The control they had over their lives and over the world was never meant to bring comfort or security. They had control so they could properly do the job that had been given to them. Now we've focused our efforts on regaining all of those things that we have lost. We see the possibility of some terrible disaster and we try with all our might to avoid it, to keep it from happening. We may even enlist the efforts of friends, family, or complete strangers, rallying them to the cause. It doesn't matter how we try and regain control, whether through a good job, living in a good neighborhood, going to the right doctors, or building a tower to the heavens, these are not the things that keep you safe. They will not bring happiness. They give the illusion of control because they sound good, but none of them come with guarantees. None of them will truly keep you safe. The reason God confuses their languages is the same reason he feeds the Israelites manna each day as they wander in the wilderness. It's the same reason Jesus tells Satan, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Whether you're trying to settle in the plains of Shinar, you're wandering in the wilderness, or you're just living in the world today, you have a hard lesson to learn. Nothing you do, nothing anyone else does, nothing in this world will keep you safe or provide you any lasting comfort or happiness. The very idea of letting go, brings panic, terror. "How can you live if you don't have control over your life?" But, I never had control in the first place. None of us do. It's a very hard lesson to learn. It's also why Jesus is such a confusing person. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Creator. Jesus is omnipotent. He's eternal. He's all of those "God" adjectives and he just gives it all up. He becomes a person. He goes from having control over everything to having control over nothing, and it gets him killed, killed in one of the worst ways anyone can be killed. Through it all, Jesus doesn't panic. He isn't afraid. Even when he knows what's coming, he does not run from it. He doesn't make demands or try to negotiate a better deal. In fact, right before the all of this happens, he tells his disciples, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Jesus trusted his Father because he knew he is the only one in control. Security, comfort, happiness, even life itself, only come from him. Jesus goes to his death, still knowing with certainty that his Father is in control, and he is not disappointed. Jesus is triumphant over death and rises to new life. He proves there never was anything to fear. But, of course, we're celebrating the day of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost has many exciting things going on. There's the work of the Holy Spirit, there's the disciples preaching, there are the crowds gathered to hear them, many who come to faith and are baptized. A great and momentous day, the day Jesus's command to go and make disciples officially begins, and thus the beginning of the church. We look at the disciples there preaching to the crowds of Jews who have gathered from all over the world. They hear the gospel, which is, of course, the whole point. Some believe and some doubt, but all marvel at it. And so they should, because, for the first time since a bunch of people thousands of years ago tried to build a big tower, language is no longer a barrier. God has undone the damage their pride had brought about. God is restoring creation. He is mending the damage. He is tearing down the barriers. He is bringing people together, and he is doing it for those who trust in him. Sin brings division. Sin separates and isolates. The confusion of languages is the natural result of sin. The work of Christ undoes sin. His work begins by bringing us back to him. But he doesn't stop there. All of creation is plagued by the effects of sin and he has come to reverse all of that damage. That means he restores our connection to him, but also to each other. None of this is accomplished by pride. As we see in the world around us, no matter how hard we try, strife, anger, and divisiveness still abound. We've had thousands of years to get it right and we still haven't done it, because it can't be done. Not by us anyway. The world changes, not through our efforts, but through God's. He restores. He gives life. He puts things back the way they used to be, the way they were supposed to be. Our pride is just one more thing to bring to him, that he may mend that as well, to turn our pride in our accomplishments into humble trust in him, to forgive our vain assumption that we can bring about our own security and comfort. God has given us ample proof of what comes from trusting in him. He shows us throughout the Bible how he is undoing all of the damage we cause. This is just one more example. He tears down barriers and brings his people together. It's just one more reason Communion is so important, because here again he gives us a glimpse of the new creation that awaits those who trust in him. Here again, God brings us together, drawing us to himself and connecting us to one another, a place where all barriers are removed and we, through humble trust, receiving his forgiveness and his blessings in this life and the life to come.