Dearest e-votees-
This Sunday is the 50th day after Easter (counting partial days like we do when saying Easter is the 3rd day after Good Friday). It is the Day of Pentecost. The word Pentecost is a greek word which means 50.
Pentecost is a feast the originates in Old Testament times and was counted out 50 days (7 weeks) from Passover. It is one of the three festivals for which people would make pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There is a nice article in the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Baker Book House ©1988) about Pentecost/Feast of Weeks if you are so inclined. Please send me an e-mail if you would like to know more about this.
For Christians the feast took on a whole new meaning when it became the moment when the Holy Spirit became widely distributed among the gathered believers. This is simliar to how Passover took on a whole new meaning when Jesus took unleavened bread from the Passover meal (Seder) and a cup from among the four cups at the Seder and instituted Holy Communion.
May the Holy Spirit blow through us all during our days and empower and equip us for service.
Peace,
Karl
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“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15, NRSV
Jesus is talking to his disciples preparing them for his passion and departure. Chapter 18 and following is when the words turn from pure red (Jesus offering his extended discourse) to mostly black (more action and description) as Jesus is arrested, accused, abused, crucified, buried and resurrected.
Jesus is offering assurances to his disciples (and to us) that we will not be left on our own. As Jesus returns to the Father he will send the Advocate. The Holy Spirit comes to the early church on the day of Pentecost. People are gathered from all parts of the world speaking all manner of tongues. The Holy Spirit descends upon them and they are equipped and empowered to give testimony about God. When the festival is over people return to their usual places but they don't return the same. The Holy Spirit is moving and active in their lives guiding and reminding and correcting and proving and judging. The teachings of Jesus that are needed are brought to memory. Testimony abounds fueled by the Holy Spirit.
When we gather in our houses of worship we come from many different parts of the world and speaking a large variety of languages. The Holy Spirit blows among us as we confess and are absolved, as we sing and worship, as we encounter baptism and communion and as the word is rightly preached. When the worship is over we return to our usual places but don't return the same. The Holy Spirit is still moving and active in our lives doing all the same things it always has.
May we go out into the world with a testimony fueled by the Holy Spirit. We do not go out alone. We do not go out in our names seeking our glory and recognition. May the Advocate blow through us and bring glory to God the Father and our Lord Jesus.
God, gather us as your people. Take the old forms and the old rituals and blow into them new life and new inspiration. Have your way in us all to your glory. Amen.
This Sunday is the 50th day after Easter (counting partial days like we do when saying Easter is the 3rd day after Good Friday). It is the Day of Pentecost. The word Pentecost is a greek word which means 50.
Pentecost is a feast the originates in Old Testament times and was counted out 50 days (7 weeks) from Passover. It is one of the three festivals for which people would make pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There is a nice article in the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Baker Book House ©1988) about Pentecost/Feast of Weeks if you are so inclined. Please send me an e-mail if you would like to know more about this.
For Christians the feast took on a whole new meaning when it became the moment when the Holy Spirit became widely distributed among the gathered believers. This is simliar to how Passover took on a whole new meaning when Jesus took unleavened bread from the Passover meal (Seder) and a cup from among the four cups at the Seder and instituted Holy Communion.
May the Holy Spirit blow through us all during our days and empower and equip us for service.
Peace,
Karl
------------------------------
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
Jesus is talking to his disciples preparing them for his passion and departure. Chapter 18 and following is when the words turn from pure red (Jesus offering his extended discourse) to mostly black (more action and description) as Jesus is arrested, accused, abused, crucified, buried and resurrected.
Jesus is offering assurances to his disciples (and to us) that we will not be left on our own. As Jesus returns to the Father he will send the Advocate. The Holy Spirit comes to the early church on the day of Pentecost. People are gathered from all parts of the world speaking all manner of tongues. The Holy Spirit descends upon them and they are equipped and empowered to give testimony about God. When the festival is over people return to their usual places but they don't return the same. The Holy Spirit is moving and active in their lives guiding and reminding and correcting and proving and judging. The teachings of Jesus that are needed are brought to memory. Testimony abounds fueled by the Holy Spirit.
When we gather in our houses of worship we come from many different parts of the world and speaking a large variety of languages. The Holy Spirit blows among us as we confess and are absolved, as we sing and worship, as we encounter baptism and communion and as the word is rightly preached. When the worship is over we return to our usual places but don't return the same. The Holy Spirit is still moving and active in our lives doing all the same things it always has.
May we go out into the world with a testimony fueled by the Holy Spirit. We do not go out alone. We do not go out in our names seeking our glory and recognition. May the Advocate blow through us and bring glory to God the Father and our Lord Jesus.
God, gather us as your people. Take the old forms and the old rituals and blow into them new life and new inspiration. Have your way in us all to your glory. Amen.
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