Pentecost (see Acts 2) is the day the Holy Spirit came upon the early church, as promised by Jesus to his disciples, empowering them to go and witness the gospel of Jesus Messiah to the whole world.
Between Jesus’ resurrection and Pentecost, Jesus appeared to his disciples. He taught them once again about the scripture, opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said the Holy Spirit would be sent to them, so that they would be clothed with the power from on high. After saying this (today’s passage: Luke 24), Jesus blessed them, withdrew from them, and ascended to heaven.
The disciples waited for this promise of Jesus’ to be fulfilled, as he commanded them to do. Their waiting looked like devotion to prayer, men and women gathered together, now 125 people.
From heaven suddenly came a loud sound, like the rush of a violent wind, filling the entire house, and then divided tongues of fire appeared, resting on each of the disciples. As they received the power from on high, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit gave them the ability to speak in other languages.
The observing crowd was shocked and accused them of being drunk. The crowd was bewildered because each one heard the disciples speaking in their own native language – even though the disciples hadn’t been able to speak these languages moments ago. The list of nations is representative of a universal scope.
This is the universality of the Church--language barriers are supernaturally overcome as a sign that the nations would now be gathered together in Christ (irrespective of outward status, citizenship, place of birth). This Spirit gift happened once and for all. Now all people of God can always and everywhere benefit from the Spirit’s ministry.
In our scripture passage from Luke, before Jesus ascended and before the Holy Spirit came, the disciples were shocked and afraid to see Jesus. He was their beloved teacher, the one they had put all their hope in to right the wrongs of the world. But instead, Jesus was killed like a criminal by the Empire, to show that military and political power is the only power.
What were his disciples expecting when Jesus reappeared? A rallying speech and declaration of the promise of his new administration? Plot revenge against the leaders who had him killed? Recruit, amass an army to fight and take back land? Mass-destruction and ending of lives?
No, the Kingdom of God is completely unlike the rules of war, the ways of the world. In his inaugural moments in his resurrected body, he reappeared to his followers and understood their feelings must be addressed. He made it so they could trust they were really with their beloved Jesus again: Look, touch, see, eat with me, Jesus said.
Jesus’ resurrection signified a new Kingdom come. But the Kingdom of God is not of wielding power or flexing pride in domination, but of really knowing you, deep relationship, second chances, and food for everyone to eat.
Frequently in this time with his disciples, Jesus ate. Breaking bread together in Jesus’ time meant many things. It meant who belonged and who was part of the community. Jesus told them that this table was now extended to all nations. Everyone is invited to eat with the risen Messiah.
Jesus meets the needs of physical hunger and introduces, by the power of the Holy Spirit, a Divine Hunger. It is “Divine Hunger:” the hunger and thirst of the Holy Spirit.
Later, on Pentecost, three thousand more people were added to this new community in Christ. They welcomed the message, received the gospel, and were baptized. And then their lives were totally transformed by the Spirit’s Divine Hunger. The believers shared what they had in common.
This is God’s Sabbath economics realized at Pentecost. The Divine Hunger of the Spirit of the living God changes our sense of economics. Meals, possessions, lives; all shared. In the Pentecost Community, there is enough. This Pentecost Community freely gave of all their possessions, shared with each other and those in need.
But this is not the economics of the global market, of our world. We face financial worries and pray for security. We struggle to provide for our loved ones.
However, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we also experience the Pentecost Community. By building up our community, by sharing our lives, by breaking bread together, by worshipping God together, we experience the fullness of divine life, we share the divine hunger of the Holy Spirit.
In God’s community, we share the wealth of God. This is the economics of a Pentecost Community. In God’s community we have enough, there is enough, and by the power of the Spirit of the Living God, our fear and uncertainty turn to glad and generous hearts.
May the divine hunger of the Holy Spirit be the fire that inspires you today--burning out the fears and uncertainties, feeding a glad and generous heart response to the gospel message of a living God with us, reminding us all that there is enough in God’s Pentecost community.
What did you learn about the Holy Spirit? Why did Jesus want to give this gift to his followers and what does this gift do?
Why is Jesus’ bodily resurrection (demonstrated in his invitation to see him, touch his wounds, and eat with him) important? How is the resurrection of Jesus a source of deep hope for us?
How does the Kingdom of God contrast with the Empires of the World? What does power look like in these kingdoms? What activities are hallmarks of these kingdoms? What does the Holy Spirit have to do with the Kingdom of God?
How have you experienced Pentecost Community or enough in God’s economy?
What Divine Hunger is the Holy Spirit stirring in you? How should you respond to God’s great love for you?
