“What Does This Mean?”
Acts 2:1-12
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs–we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
The Conditions before Pentecost
Upheaval and chaos: Two historical events are primarily responsible for the chaos which exists in the world. These events are: the introduction of individual sin into the world by Adam and Eve, and the introduction of community sin into the world at the Tower of Babel.
As a result of the chaos caused by sin we are isolated from each other and we are isolated from God. The Psalmist writes, “If I regard wickedness in my heart then the Lord will not hear [when I pray]” (Psalm 66:18). Isaiah the prophet asserts, “Our iniquities have made a separation between us and our God. Our sins have hidden His face from us so that He does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
After the Tower of Babel, people were scattered. People were diverse in language and became diverse in culture and ethnicity. People became tribal and suspicious of others who were not like them. As a result of the scattering people moved further apart from each other and from God.
On Pentecost Jesus’ followers were gathered in the Upper Room:
Praying: Prayer is prescribed for Believers. Jesus teaches extensively on prayer. One of His teachings explains, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
Fasting, Teaching, Encouraging, Worshipping: Seeking God. David, the king, reminds us to, “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11).
Unity in Jesus
Through Jesus’ life we learned to break down cultural barriers. In Jesus’ life we saw modeled for us the way to live in harmony with others.
Through Jesus’ death the means for our reconciliation to God is offered freely to those who will accept it in faith.
Through Jesus’ resurrection we are assured of God’s faithfulness to us and we know everything God promised He will do.
Through Jesus we know we are now a unified Body, one with another. Paul encourages, “We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is neither male nor female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Affirmed by the Holy Spirit
Jesus promised He would not leave us as orphans (John 14:16-18). This promise is fulfilled at Pentecost.
The out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon those who by faith believe in Jesus is the means by which God affirms we are indeed His children.
The Spirit of God speaks directly to our spirits. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 16:8).
Verification: How do we know this is true?
Jesus prayed for it. In Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, He prays for our unity (John 17:20-24). Jesus prays the unity of Believers proves to the world that Jesus was sent from God to save humanity.
One language, not many. When we believe Jesus we begin to speak the same language. This is the language of faith.
So, what does this mean? What are we to understand from the events of Pentecost? We can understand in Pentecost Jesus’ promises are being fulfilled. In Pentecost, the affirmation of our unity in Jesus was made real. The chaos of the world, the chaos of sin was removed. The peace and unity of Jesus was known and experienced by many. You can also experience the peace and unity of Jesus today. Simply believe in faith that Jesus died for you and was raised from the dead.
