In the first century the Jewish people celebrated the festival of Pentecost. The word itself comes from the Greek meaning “fiftieth day” and was commemorated fifty days after Passover and was the official end of the celebration of Passover. It was on that Jewish festival which occurred just after the ascension of Jesus. No longer having the presence of Jesus with them, and many in the Jewish community upset with the followers of Jesus because of the unrest associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples are again gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. They are fearful about their future, and in their fear, they come together in the place where they had met Jesus twice after His resurrection. No doubt they looked for comfort being among their own, and possibly strength in numbers.
Unexpectedly God came to them again. Not in the form of the risen Christ, but as the Holy Spirit. In a gust of wind and the presence of fire the Spirit moves them from their upper room into the streets where they proclaim their faith in Jesus with boldness. We often call this event the birth of the church. It is the time the earliest followers of Jesus are moved from a frightened group meeting alone and in secret to a people who not only speak what they believe, but speak it boldly.
As we commemorate this festival of Pentecost, the church prays that the Holy Spirit would move us as it did the first followers of Jesus that we also may proclaim the faith that is in us.
Pastor Bill