Acts 2.1-12

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own languages!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

What does this mean?  A question asked more often than we realize.  In the big picture, people wonder about the meaning of life.  What are we here for?  What is the purpose of life?  Or more personally, what is the purpose of my life?  We still want to understand these things.  It is not a new pursuit.  It is why we have asked the questions that begin with that word – “Why”.  We have asked the “why” questions from a young age.  People have asked the “why” question for most of history.

But we ask the question, “What does this mean?”, or the equivalent, “Why did this happen?”.  The people are asking the question regarding the speaking of many languages by a group of common, uneducated men.  What does it mean that these men can do this?  And we see that it shows the power of the Holy Spirit, even if it is just in the beginning of the work of the Spirit, and the tip of what is about to come from the Spirit at work in the church.

The question, “What does this mean?”, takes the Jewish people back to another annual event they celebrated – Passover.  There the youngest in the room was to ask the question of what this all means, “Why do we celebrate this Passover meal?”  And then they would speak of how it showed God at work in the saving of the nation.  The restoration of life and the freedom from bondage.  And now the question is asked as the Apostles proclaim God at work and the saving of all people.

What does this mean?  It means that the power of God, and the saving grace of God, are now bringing all people to him in faith.  It means that the power of God that had been evident in Jesus for these years of ministry was now placed in the church to continue his mission of bringing salvation to all people.  It means that God was then at work in these few in the upper room, and will be at work in many others, as the Spirit brings grace and life into the lives of the many who will believe.

What does this mean?  It means that God’s grace is true and active for each of us in life.  It means that God is working grace in us through his Spirit and will use us as we follow him to bring grace to the world and glory to him in all we do.

 

Prayer

God of power, may the boldness of your Spirit transform us, may the gentleness of your Spirit lead us, may the gifts of your Spirit equip us to serve and follow you now and always.  Amen.

 

Song – Who Am I?

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