Eastertide: God's Wind at Our Backs and Fire in Our Bones
I highlight, in this final post on Easter Tide, the arrival of God’s Spirit, introduced in the Gospel of John. If, by chance, you have been told that the Spirit is the “shy member of the Trinity,” I am here to dispel that myth. The Spirit is anything but shy.
You might remember Jesus and the disciples in the Upper Room just before the crucifixion. Jesus, aware that his impending departure created a collective anxiety among his disciples, assuaged their fears and introduced them to the Spirit.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will as the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannon receive, because it neither sees him nor knowns him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:12–14)
I am not sure that this line of reasoning helped them very much at the time because, more than anything, they did not want Jesus to leave!
Give these words a little more time to sink in.
Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…because the Father is sending another.
We learn from this conversation that God’s Spirit reveals truth, stimulates growth, forgives, reminds, loves, abides, nourishes, and empowers us to do greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12–17; 25–26;15:4–7; 16:4–15).
He knew his disciples well and understood their sorrow but presses the point.
It is to your advantage that I go away because the Helper, sent in my name, comes to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth for he does not speak on his own authority but according to the authority of Jesus (John 16:12–15).
These passages remind us that all authority in heaven and on earth resides in Jesus and mysteriously underscores the fact that the revolution is afoot.
The Comforter, Helper, Counselor, Teacher has come to live with, in, and through us—God’s children, the church.
Pentecost Then
So, here we fast forward from the Upper Room before the crucifixion to the celebration of Pentecost which took place fifty days after the resurrection. When we step back with a wide-angle-lens and locate the celebration of Pentecost in the true story of the whole world, we learn that the Jews have been celebrating Pentecost for a long time! They gathered every year for the Feast of Weeks to commemorate Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, the first Passover, and Israel’s eventual arrival into the Promised Land, (Exodus 23:14–17; 34:22–23; Leviticus 23:15–17; Numbers 28: 26; Deut 16:16).
This explains why thousands of Jews representing a host of nations converged on Jerusalem to celebrate.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appears to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1–4)
The diversity of nations reminds us that the Good News is intended for all kinds of people evidenced by the fact that everyone in attendance that day heard the gospel in their own language.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in their own langue. And they were amazed and astonished. Saying, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?’ (Acts 2: 5–13)
Pentecost Now
The results of this experience detailed Acts reminds us that God’s Spirit is alive and well. Pentecost reminds and fills us with courage and hope today as we gather, research, write, learn, read, grow, and strain to tell others about this Jesus who has changed everything.
Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…because the Father is sending another.
God’s Spirit takes up residence inside of each of us—we are the living stones that make up the living temple of God (2 Cor 1:3–11; Eph 2:11–22; 1 Peter 2:4–10). We are God’s children and ambassadors. We are individually and collectively members of the royal and holy priesthood.
This means that whoever we are and wherever we go God’s Spirit is drawing others to Jesus.
Whoever You Are and Wherever You Go
Think about it this way, the Spirit, who comforted Jesus in the wilderness, is our Comforter and comforts others through us. The Spirit who is present with us through the darkest times, uses our struggles and suffering to help others. The Spirit who calms our anxiety uses us to bring peace to a friend or a barrista. The Spirit who led someone to share the gospel with you is using you to tell someone else (Luke 4:1–19; 1 Cor 3:16–17; 1 Peter 1:6–9).
God’s Spirit lights a fire in our bones, reveals to us the mystery of God’s truth, empowers our witness, and compels us to be God’s living and breathing church (Hebrews 4:12–13; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 4–5:21).
Summer Winds
I encourage you this summer (or winter if you are down under) to read the book of Acts—the Acts of God’s Spirit. Follow the Spirit’s actions from beginning to the end. But, mark my words and hold onto the pages of your Bible, the wind is strong and the fire burns brightly.
