TUESDAY
The people of God become the temple when the Spirit is poured out at Pentecost. Before Jesus ascends into heaven, he tells his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4–5 (NIV) 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
This Promise is fulfilled about 50 days after the resurrection during Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. This was a pilgrimage holiday in which the people of Israel would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate together at the temple.
Acts 2:1–4 (NIV) 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 tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
There is much that we could talk about in relation to Pentecost, but we will limit our conversation to the important piece for this campaign. This event marks the beginning of the church’s empowerment by the Spirit and the widespread baptism of the Spirit upon the people of God. Prior to Pentecost, individuals who are said to be filled with the Holy Spirit usually to perform a certain task for God. Here, the Spirit is poured out upon all believers.
The fire that came to rest on the believers is an interesting image that would likely have brought up connotations of God’s powerful presence. Fire is an image often used of the prophets for judgment and cleansing (Isa. 5:24). However, that is not the sense here. The sense here is likely God’s powerful presence and glory. God’s presence is revealed in fire in the burning bush (remember, Sinai is another symbol of a temple), the pillar of fire over the tabernacle, and the fire that consumed the sacrifice at the dedication of the temple. God’s heavenly presence has come to earth in the Holy Spirit to indwell God’s people.
Acts 2:5–12 (NIV) 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 tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
The tongues that were spoken at Pentecost were real languages.* Jews from all over the world heard them praising God in their native languages. This is a reversal of Babel and an indication that God is now uniting the nations that had previously been divided. He is making one new people in Christ. This is the theme we are picking up on the rest of this week—as the temple, the people of God, are unified in Christ. Luke, the author of Acts, lists all of the nations people were from. This is hard to read but it solidifies the point that God, in the church, is bringing people from all nations into his family.
*This is something different than what Paul is talking about as a spiritual gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14. The gift of tongues needs to be interpreted if it is spoken in public. It is primarily a heavenly, private prayer language.
Reflection
The first question that we have to wrestle with in our own hearts on this question is whether or not we truly love this idea of diversity in the people of God. Is this something you desire? Or would you prefer expressions of worship from people who look, think, act, and live like you?