Today is Pentecost Sunday. Fifty days after Easter, Acts 2 tells us that the disciples were gathered together when God’s Spirit came down filling the place and then. This was accompanied with dramatic signs: the building shook, a strong wind ripped through the place, the appearance of tongues of fire in their heads and the sudden ability of the disciples to pray and praise in other languages. The commotion led to a great preaching opportunity and as a result of Peter’s words, 3000 were added to the church.
Sometimes people describe Pentecost as the birthday of the Church but rather than it being the birth itself, we should perhaps think of it as being the 21st birthday or coming if age of God’s people, the day when we were invited to enjoy the full benefits of being children and heirs of God.
Whilst a lot of focus these days tends to be on the Spirit empowering us, you will notice two things when reading the New Testament. First, Jesus emphasizes his role as comforter, counsellor or advocate. His job is to lead us into truth. Second the focus at Pentecost is on the coming of the Spirit as the sign that God’s promise is fulfilled.
In other words, Pentecost is about the fruit of the Gospel. We are now reconciled to God. Where one person of the Trinity is present, all three persons are present. So at Pentecost,vwe see the Father, Son and Spirit, the triune God make his home with his people. That is ultimately why Pentecost is good news.
Faithroots 