Two weeks ago, I wrote a devotional about the significance of Ascension Day- the celebration of Jesus returning to heaven 40 days after his resurrection (Acts 1:3).

Well, this past Sunday the Christian church celebrated Pentecost- the day the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers.  And like Ascension Day, the Lancaster County plain community closed their businesses and canceled school.  Pam and I drove down to Quarryville on Monday and there were so many gray and black buggies on the road going to picnics and family gatherings that driving was like running an Amish/Mennonite slalom. So, this week, in observance of Pentecost, I thought I’d write briefly about the history and significance of this day for followers of Jesus.

History

The book of Acts tells us that one of Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples before his ascension was to wait in Jerusalem for the long-promised gift of the Holy Spirit.

⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)

And so, the disciples, totaling 120, waited patiently in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to arrive.  They didn’t wait long.  Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, the Spirit came in power.  This happened during the Jewish festival of First Fruits [or Weeks] (Exodus 34:22). First Fruits celebrated the ingathering of the wheat harvest, and the city of Jerusalem was packed with worshippers from around the Roman Empire who came to present their grain offerings at the Temple.

The account in Acts is pretty straightforward:

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)

Significance

So, the Holy Spirit came.  What’s the big deal?  What is the significance of the coming of the Holy Spirit? I’m sure much more could be said, but here are a few thoughts:

The Indwelling Spirit of God : For millennia God had promised a coming new covenant  in which He would give his people a new heart and a put his Spirit within them (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  Pentecost is the inauguration of this new relationship.  We no longer need to go to a temple to worship God; we are the temple and God lives within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). And although more fully realized in heaven, God now dwells with his people to guide, teach, and transform us (John 14:16-17, 26). Since we now have the Holy Spirit, we can both be filled with (Ephesians 5:18) and walk in step with (Galatians 5:25) the Spirit.

Birth of the Church: Pentecost is often referred to as the “birthday of the Church.” Jesus spoke to his disciples of a future community of Spirit-filled believers that would grow in Christlikeness (Matthew 18:17) and advance his kingdom. In fact, Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church (Matthew 16:18)!  Pentecost launched and empowered the church, the body of Christ for growth and impact. Jesus may no longer be here, but the church is the hands and feet of Jesus in this world.

Empowerment for Mission:  The Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost empowered his disciples to begin their mission of spreading the gospel.  Acts 1:8 states, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Holy Spirit intentionally came at a time when Jerusalem was packed with people from every corner of the Roman empire. And when the Spirit fell, the disciples fanned out across the city sharing the word of God in power and “each one heard them speaking in his own language (Acts 2:7).  Peter also, filled with the Spirit, delivered a sermon that resulted in 3,000 people coming to faith in Christ. And today, the Spirit continues to empower believers to effectively live out and share their faith.

Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit: At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit bestowed spiritual gifts upon believers.  And while, we may not experience a miraculous gift like tongues, ever since that day, at the point of salvation, the Spirit has been uniquely gifting believers for the building up of the church and the common good of others (1 Corinthians 12:4-27). And as we abide in Christ, the presence of the Holy Spirit also cultivates the fruit of the Spirit within our lives, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  Because of Pentecost, we can fulfill God’s unique purpose for our lives and be fruitful.

So, Happy Pentecost!  Jesus returned to heaven, but he didn’t abandoned us.  He gave us the very Spirit and Presence of God to walk with us every step of the way.  We are never alone and we have way more power than we think.  The abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10) is only possible as we recognize and rely on the Spirit of God within.