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The Day of
Pentecost |
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The
Temple courts were filled with the clamor of thousands of devout worshippers who
stood amazed and confused at the sights and the sounds before them. They had
just heard a sound like that of a mighty wind fill the ancient court yards, and
they had seen what looked like cloven tongues of fire sit upon twelve men from
Galilee. If that were not enough, these twelve men were now speaking flawlessly
in the languages and dialects of the thousands who had made the long journey to
Jerusalem to celebrate both the Passover, and the seven week long Feast of Weeks
which ended with the day of Pentecost. The twelve from Galilee were surely prophets of Jehovah. They were speaking the "wonders of God." But why? Why had Jehovah been silent for 400 years, and now suddenly broken that silence in such a tremendously marvelous way? Could it be that something was about to happen? Is Israel's long-awaited day of redemption at hand? Is the promised Messiah about to be declared? Will he now make his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and lead the people of God in victory to finally bring the peace of Jehovah to a troubled world? Excitement and joy began filling the hearts of the faithful as they anticipated great things to come from these men. Indeed, the next words from the man they would later know as Peter, filled the hearts of these worshippers with such overwhelming hope and expectation. He told them they were now hearing and seeing the very thing which had been spoken of by the prophet Joel hundreds of years earlier. Peter then quoted from the prophet, giving an inspired interpretation of the prophecy as he spoke. He said, "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy." Prophetic revelation! Indeed they were hearing prophetic revelation from these twelve men who had been filled with the Spirit and were speaking of "the wonders of God." But there was more. Peter continued quoting from the prophet Joel by saying, "I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. " These worshippers knew the language of judgment when they heard it, and they recognized that Joel was prophesying of a day when miraculous demonstrations would be preformed by the hand of God. Indeed, miraculous demonstrations had been wrought in their very presence. They all heard the sound like a mighty wind, they saw the cloven tongues which appeared like fire, and they heard the twelve speak miraculously in the languages and dialects of the thousands of foreigners gathered there. Then Peter concluded Joel's prophecy by saying, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Spiritual salvation was at hand! The moment had arrived for the redemption of the people of God! Surely, the Messiah was near! But where? Who was the one who would lead the people of God to victory? Who was the man whom the prophets had promised would come to occupy the throne of David? Who was the one established forever and ever? "Men of Israel, listen to this!" We can only imagine the faces filled with beaming radiance as these devout men were straining to hear every precious word which fell from Peter's lips. Surely, he was about to announce the name of Jehovah's Messiah, the Redeemer who would bring salvation and peace to the people. However, the next three words from the mouth of Peter pierced to the very depths of the hearts of these devout worshippers. The next three words would send a shock wave throughout the ancient city of Jerusalem, across the rolling hills of Palestine to the far reaches of the Roman Empire itself. For the next three words were the name of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. They were the words, "Jesus of Nazareth!" It's been said that a man can think a thousand thoughts in only a flash of time. Thousands of thoughts must have raced through the minds of these worshippers as they heard the words, "Jesus of Nazareth." They immediately remembered the man of Galilee who performed miracles among the people – the man who was said to have healed the sick and even raised the dead. Jesus of Nazareth: the man who taught with such clarity and simplicity, and yet with such power and authority. Jesus of Nazareth: the man whose zeal burned like fire as he cleansed the Temple of money-robbing merchants. The humble man from Galilee in whom no one could find fault, whose life was open to all, and yet one in whom not one accusation of wrong-doing could be substantiated. Jesus of Nazareth: the man crucified between two thieves, and then placed in a well-guarded tomb. Who was this man Jesus of Nazareth? Could he be the hope of Israel after all? Could he be the Redeemer, the Messiah? "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth…!" |
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