Pentecost is one of those Christian festivals that people have often
heard about but know little about. It's more commonly known by its
old name Whitsun or Whit Sunday and is often associated with school
half-term or with local events or traditions.
Pentecost
is fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead at Easter and ten days
after he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:1-11). It is the day when the
disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and started to tell others
about Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-41), so it is often called the birthday of
the Church. But the Holy Spirit didn't just appear at Pentecost.
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is not just a way of
describing the power of God, but that “Within the
unity of the Godhead there are three persons who are of one
substance, power and eternity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.” (The Articles of Religion in modern form - An English Prayer Book [Church Society:1994]). This belief in 'one God in three
persons' is celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost, which is
Trinity Sunday. So the Holy Spirit is eternal and we see him at work
throughout the Bible, although his work changes.
Before Jesus, the Holy
Spirit was involved with creation, especially of humans (Genesis 1:2 and 2:7). He was given to particular people, at particular times,
for particular tasks (for example: to Bezalel to be an artist [Exodus31:1-5]; to Gideon to lead [Judges 6:14-16, 34]; and to Isaiah to
prophesy [Isaiah 61:1-3]). But the Holy Spirit was also promised to
be eventually for all believers, all of the time (Joel 2:28-29).
Jesus was conceived by
the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), and the Holy Spirit came on Jesus at his
baptism (Luke 3:21-22) and empowered his ministry (Acts 10:38).
Jesus also promised that his disciples would receive the Holy Spirit
too (Acts 1:4-5).
So at Pentecost we see
the fulfilment of the Old Testament promise and Jesus' promise. But
that promise was not just for Jesus' first disciples. Peter reminded
the crowd on that day that if we repent and believe in Jesus we too
will receive the Holy Spirit as “The promise is for you and your
children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our
God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).
This is something
really worth celebrating: the same Holy Spirit that brought the
universe into being; that gave humanity its soul; that empowered
Jesus to do all his miracles – that same Holy Spirit is available
to each and every one of us that repents and believes in Jesus!! The
Holy Spirit enables us to do many things, and the New Testament is
clear that without the Holy Spirit you cannot be called a Christian –
but all you have to do is ask (Luke 11:9-13)!
