Devotional 5-11-18

Holy Hurricane

Pentecost is a Christian holiday that is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter.  It occurs about ten days after the ascension of Jesus Christ.  It is signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the followers of Jesus while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks as described in the in the Acts of the Apostles.

There are some stories of how Jesus talked with the disciples before He ascended. He told them that they should not leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit arrived.  In Acts 2, the scene of the disciples in a room at Pentecost links the commitment of the Holy Spirit’s work in the church with the conclusion of Christ’s earthly ministry in the Upper Room before the crucifixion.

Descriptions of fire and wind in the Pentecost account resounds throughout the Old and New Testament. The sound of rushing wind and its might is always understood as under God’s control.  Another aspect of the account is the miraculous speaking of foreign tongues that enabled people from various language groups to understand the Apostles.  Many thought the Apostles were drunk but Peter convinced them otherwise.

The question is why did the Holy Spirit come with such force? Some research stated that God wanted to change the people and changing people is never easy.  The wind came like a “Holy Hurricane.” So many times when our country suffers from a hurricane, we learn that it brings the people closer together.  I remember when Houston, Texas was flooded.  We saw the people change.  They helped each other.  Physical possessions no longer mattered.  People’s lives became first concern for all. Everyone came closer, caring for the needy. It definitely worked in Jerusalem!  The words moved them, and they asked Peter what should they do? He told them to be baptized in the name of Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and the Gift of the Holy Spirit.  Peter preached a long sermon and over 3000 were baptized. They joined the others in attendance of the Holy Communion service.  A deep sense of awe was n all of them, and the Apostles did many miracles.

Hear Our Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Give us the sense of awe that your disciples felt as they began to preach your message among the people. Give us a sense of belonging to our church community.

Amen

Carol L. Brown