This Sunday was Pentecost Sunday.
Traditionally, it's a time when the Christian church celebrates its roots, specifically, when the Holy Spirit came to a small group of Jesus' followers who were gathered together in one place.
As the second chapter of the book of Acts records it, ""When the Day of Pentecost had finally come, they [followers of Jesus] were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing, mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1-4 NKJ)
The study notes in my Bible explain that Pentecost was a major Jewish festival, coming fifty days after the Passover Sabbath. The celebration involved people honoring God by offering the first fruits of their harvest so that they rest of the harvest would be blessed.
Almost instantly the small band of followers becomes emboldened and they began to speak in different languages "as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability."
Acts records, "At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise [of the wind] everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers."
'How can this be?' they exclaimed. 'These people [speaking to us] are from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are - Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and the areas around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Cretans and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!'" (Acts 2:5-11 NKJ).
The interesting thing is that the Holy Spirit could just as easily have had all of the assembled people understand Aramaic, the native tongue of Jesus' followers.
But the way it turned out, each person heard the "good news" in their own language, making it personal to them. It was direct. And it was a way for God to honor every individual within hearing distance of the apostles that day.
Sometimes present-day Christians forget that the followers of Jesus, on Pentecost, were the outsiders. They had been in hiding for fifty days since Easter. They were the minority culture that day in Jerusalem. They were spiritual refugees.
In the very first preaching of the "good news," God used this band of refugees to affirm all of the Jews who had gathered from many nations. They each heard the message that Peter preached in their own language. Peter's culture, his race, was not dominant that day.
God used Pentecost to affirm every person in the crowd.
Perhaps because of this beginning, three thousand individuals received Peter's message on Pentecost and decided to follow the teachings of Jesus.
And their lives were radically changed.
In fact, the second chapter of Acts goes on to say that "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. And a deep sense of awe came over them all, and they apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people..."
(Acts 2:42-47 NKJ).
On one level, the spreading of the "good news" depended upon a small group of spiritual refugees.
But because God honored the culture of those assembled to hear their first sermon, the "good news" quickly spread.
Perhaps a healthy respect for others who don't look like us, or think like us, or speak like us? A desire to affirm others and understand those differences? A willingness to listen to what others have to say and learn from them? Seeing the world from a "we're all in this together," instead of an "us" against "them," point of view?
How about the effects of Pentecost upon those who chose to follow? Is our first instinct to share the material possessions we have with those who don't have? To come to the table together? Is part of "having all things in common," a genuine desire to look out for each other?
If these things are so, no wonder that the first day the "good news" was given, three thousand people received it.
Photo credits: United Methodist Church national website; Assemblies of God national website; Express Tribune.
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