What's Whit?

Here's my article for the May magazine:

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)!