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Reflections

Easter to Pentecost

Part 6

Forty-nine days had passed since that memorable morning when Mary Magdalene and the other women raced back from the tomb with their hard-to-believe message that Jesus was not there. The disciples continued to wait in Jerusalem as Jesus commanded them.

In the next month-and-a-half, the followers of Jesus had many amazing experiences. The most amazing was seeing Jesus ascend into heaven after giving instructions that they should wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come—without telling them when or how He would appear.

Waiting for the Spirit’s Coming (then)

Patiently the disciples waited in Jerusalem. Today did not seem that much different from yesterday, except that the streets of the city were filled with people celebrating the Feast of Pentecost. The disciples continued their usual pattern of praying together.

Suddenly they heard it—a sound like a powerful wind coming into the room where they were sitting. Then the strangest phenomena occurred—every person in the room appeared to have tongues of fire resting upon them, yet they were not burned.

The joy the disciples experienced in the past few weeks suddenly overflowed their hearts and simultaneously, it seemed, everyone began speaking in languages they had not learned. The abundant praises of God poured forth in such a volume of worship that people from the streets wondered what was happening.

Then Peter, the one who had denied Christ, boldly rose and began speaking in the power of the Holy Spirit like an anointed prophet of old. Not one person there doubted that this was the day they had been waiting for; the Holy Spirit had come!

Waiting for the Spirit’s coming (now)

We know well this story from history, and look to that day as the beginning of what ultimately would be called the Church Age. In his explanation that day, Peter affirmed that what they were seeing was in fulfillment of prophecy that the Spirit would be given.

Peter concluded his message by saying the Spirit was given not only to those who were there, but to “all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call"—and that includes believers in the 21st century. We, too, can receive the Holy Spirit.

Believers today who may be waiting to receive the Holy Spirit have not only the same promise of Jesus that the disciples had, but also the history of their experience. We can see what happened in the first century when believers received the Holy Spirit, and believe that it can happen to us today.

We also have approximately 2000 years of church history to see what the Holy Spirit has done in the lives of those who yield to Him. The 20th century has been called the Century of the Spirit because of an almost universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers who seek Him.

When we see the life-changing difference the coming of the Holy Spirit made in their lives, our hearts should hunger also for His infilling. We can have that fullness if we seek it as diligently as the disciples did. If the believers of the first century needed the Holy Spirit, certainly we still need His power and presence today.

Points to Ponder

Think about the Day of Pentecost. What motivated the believers to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit? How did they know He had come? How did His coming change their lives?

Think about our lives today. What could be our motivation for wanting the fullness of the Spirit in our lives? How will we know when He has come? What changes can we expect Him to make in us?

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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