Title Come!! Holy Spirit!!
It is Pentecost Sunday, Pentecost Sunday. The early church kept this day as the second most important feast after Easter. Because the descent of the Holy Spirit took place on the day of Pentecost. God made a promise through the Old Testament. Even Jesus made several promises. Before he ascended into heaven, he told his disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard from me.” Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the promised Holy Spirit was sent to the disciples waiting in Mark's upper room.
“Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing and strong wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, and they saw tongues of fire splitting apart like tongues of fire, and it fell upon each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave them and began to speak.” This is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on the day of Pentecost.
1. Jesus sent the Father's promised Holy Spirit.
Peter is quoting from several Old Testament Scriptures when describing the events of Pentecost. Among them, the most central quotation is Joel 2:28-32. In Acts 2:17, the phrase “said God” is added and quoted. He emphasized that the promise of the Holy Spirit in Joel is the promise of God. “In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” He promised to give the Holy Spirit to all flesh. Ladies and gentlemen, this promise was not only given to the disciples at that time. It is a promise to us as well. In verse 39, Peter says, “This promise is made to you and your children and to all who are far off, to whomever the Lord our God may call. Do you guys believe it? Do you believe that the promise of the Holy Spirit is a promise to you?
Peter explains the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus up to 2:32 by quoting the Old Testament. And Peter decisively explains the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in 2:33. “God exalted Jesus with his right hand, and he has received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father and has poured out what you have seen and heard.”
Jesus, who ascended from heaven, received the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it out. In the text of Joel, God said, “I will pour out my Spirit,” while Peter is saying that Jesus receives and pours out the Holy Spirit on the Father. Jesus became the subject of sending the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God has now become the Spirit of Jesus and is to come in the name of Jesus. On the day of Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples while fulfilling the prophecy of Joel, which is God's promise of the Holy Spirit.
Then why did Jesus receive the Holy Spirit from the Father and send it in his own name?
2. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to continue the work of salvation he started.
The Gospel of Luke records the fact that Jesus began to realize the kingdom of God while he was on the earth. Jesus did this through the power of the Holy Spirit that came upon him. The Holy Spirit was the power of Jesus' work on earth. Peter speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus in 2:23. It says that “God caused great powers and wonders and signs to work among you through Jesus of Nazareth.”
In 2:34-36, Peter introduces a new Jesus who sent the Holy Spirit. In 2:33, the verb ‘to exalt’ has the meaning of ‘to put up in a position of status’. Therefore, it means that God exalted Jesus to sit at the right hand of God. 2:34-36 explains this fact. “God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” In other words, Jesus has received universal dominion from God and is ruling.
How, then, would Jesus use the universal rulership he received from his Father? This answer is the meaning of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus ascended to heaven and became the Lord of heaven and earth. Now, as Lord, he poured out the Holy Spirit upon his disciples as the power to execute his universal rule. Jesus promised his disciples that he would not be left as orphans and would come again. “Look. I will always be with you until the end of the world.” I made a promise. So Jesus came to the disciples again through the Holy Spirit. As promised, Jesus is with his disciples. Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit. Do you guys believe this?
The Lord, who came as the Holy Spirit, is acting and speaking through His disciples. Therefore, the book of Acts records the fact that Jesus, who came as the Holy Spirit, continued the work of salvation that began on earth through the disciples. It is the record of Jesus' heavenly work. Jesus continues to work through us today. I hope you believe it.
3. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to expand and deepen His work of salvation.
The Holy Spirit who came on the Day of Pentecost became the ‘Spirit of Jesus’ in that he continued the presence and work of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the only channel between the disciples and Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot have fellowship with Jesus. Except for the Holy Spirit, we cannot do any work or bear fruit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is not something we may or may not experience. He is essential for the identity and existence of the saints. If the Holy Spirit is not in us, then he is not a Christian.
When Jesus was on earth, he was limited by time and space. That's why I couldn't be with everyone at the same time. But now, on the day of Pentecost, by the descent of the Holy Spirit, Jesus can come to all of us in a new form. This is because the Holy Spirit can come to all flesh as promised in 2:17. 2:39, “This promise is made to you and to your children and to all who are far off, to whomever the Lord our God may call.” As in these words, he comes as a gift to all who receive the Lord and is with them.
When Jesus was on earth, He was with His disciples. But he came into their hearts and could not rule directly. The disciples often failed. Now, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus dwells in us and has direct control over our minds and hearts. He is bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us so that we can resemble the character of the Lord.
4. Jesus still wants His work of salvation to continue through us.
Jesus' death on the cross cannot be repeated. The resurrection of Jesus does not repeat itself. But the consequences of the cross continue to apply to us. The power of Jesus' resurrection continues to work in us. Likewise, although the work of the Pentecost is a one-time event that does not repeat itself, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost must be repeated and maintained. So Peter applies to everyone in 2:38-39. It is a promise not only given to the disciples at that time, but also to us who believed in Jesus. In this sense, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost must be repeated every day even now. The presence and work of our Lord, who has all authority in heaven and on earth, through the coming of the Holy Spirit must continue through us. Everyone, I hope you believe.
The disciples who experienced Pentecost prayed in Acts 4:29-31. “Lord, even now, reduce their threat, and grant your servants to speak the word of God with boldness, and reach out your hand to heal, and let signs and wonders be done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Then look at 4:31. “When they had done their prayers, the place where they had been gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Having experienced the Holy Spirit again on the Day of Pentecost, he boldly continued the work of Jesus by speaking the word of God.
Everyone, as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, let's long for the Lord's powerful presence. We hope that the Lord's work will continue powerfully through us. For this, I hope that we will continue to pray with one heart.