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Bible Reading: John Chapter 17, Verses 1-11
In your life there have probably been many occasions when
you have had mixed emotions. Happiness and sadness, fear and
joy, can often going together at special events in life and
no doubt there are special occasions that stick out as
changing your life for ever.
 On
this Whitsunday we celebrate such a day for the Church.
Traditionally one of the most important festivals of the
Church’s year, Whitsunday should not be dismissed as just
another occasion in the life of the Church.
The disciples and early Christians were together on the day
of Pentecost the 50th day after Easter Sunday,
but were unaware what was going to happen would change their
lives for ever. They hear a rushing mighty wind, and saw
tongues of fire and each of them was affected. This was not
just a blessing on Peter, James and John, as happened at the
transfiguration, but upon everyone, without discrimination.
How long they had been there we do not know but they had
been told to go from the Mount of the Ascension and wait in
Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Waiting for something and not knowing what you are waiting
for is most difficult. All of them would have a mixture of
emotions of expectation, hope and fear. No doubt as the
flames descended some people gasped with joy, others cried
with terror. The power of God is awesome; this was the same
power that flew over the newly created earth, and the same
power that was seen at other key points in the Old
Testament.
The reaction from the disciples is amazing. These mostly
uneducated disciples from Galilee were to be able to speak
in every known language in the world. This was not gibberish
language which needed a translator, but real language with a
real message.
The Holy Spirit gave power to disciples to praise God and
proclaim the word and works of God. They were able to tell
this amazing story which they had been part of, a story
which would be retold through the generations.
For us we are reminded that we are children of God,
empowered by the spirit and enabled to preach the word of
God. We don’t have to be wonderful speakers or vastly
educated people, but just have the love of Lord Jesus in our
hearts and we can share this wonderful message.
Whitsunday is in many ways the beginnings of the Church, a
birthday, and each year it should be a new beginning to
enthuse and encourage the Church to proclaim this
extraordinary message.
On Friday we had this Church full to overflowing with over
300 children and parents celebrating a Schools’ Music
Festival. The majority at that Festival would not have heard
this special story, and this Sunday I have the privilege of
taking Junior Church and tell this group of children this
glorious story – we have task. The next generation must know
the good news that has been passed on to us. |
