By Joseph Schlie
This Sunday, May 19th, the Church celebrates the great feast of Pentecost. The word “Pentecost”, meaning “the fiftieth day”, originally referred to the Jewish Festival of Weeks which took place fifty days after Passover (Exodus 24:22). However, it was on this day in the New Testament, fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, that Christ sent the promised Holy Spirit to his disciples (Acts 2:1-41). Indeed, when most people think of Pentecost they probably think of that New Testament event, and most likely that of the unique miracles that accompanied it. The bible records that when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost there was the sound of a mighty rushing wind (Acts 2:2), divided tongues of fire appeared over each of them (Act 2:3), and they began to speak the gospel in unlearned, yet known, languages (Acts 2:4, 6-11).
Now when we think of Pentecost there is nothing wrong with these miracles being our first association. Like any grand opening of a business it’s all of the lights, bells, and whistles that grab our attention. But I would give caution that in thinking of these things we don’t miss the forest amongst the trees. The greatest thing about Pentecost, the most important miracle, was not the mighty wind, or the tongues of fire, or even the speaking in different languages. The greatest miracle of Pentecost can be summed up in the story’s concluding verse, “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41, ESV).” The greatest miracle of Pentecost was that through the preaching of the gospel three thousand people believed and received eternal life in Christ Jesus the Lord.
This was the greatest and most important miracle that happened on Pentecost because it was the most necessary one. Only faith in Jesus will save a person (Romans 3:28). And faith comes not through miracles but through the preached word. As St. Paul said, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17, ESV).” When the Holy Spirit came upon those disciples at Pentecost He did so not simply to showcase His power, but in order to embolden them to speak. He opened their minds and loosed their tongues so that they could tell others the gospel. Again, He did this because only the gospel can save us (Acts 16:31) and only those who believe in the gospel have eternal life. The preaching of Pentecost might seem like an afterthought compared to all the other miracles, but it was only through that preaching that three thousand people were rescued from their sins and went to heaven. And in the end, that’s more important than anything else in this world.
Not everything in the Church is the same as it was that first day of Pentecost. Many of those miraculous events have faded with the apostles and probably for good reason. God doesn’t want us to give more attention to the wrapping paper then the present. But what hasn’t changed is the peaching of Jesus Christ crucified and raised for sinners. And compared to those other things this is most important miracle. Truly, the greatest way that the church can celebrate and remember that glorious day of Pentecost is by preaching the pure Word of God for all to hear. And the greatest way that we, as individual members of the Church, can celebrate is by faithfully gathering to hear that Word. So, this Pentecost Sunday find a faithful church near you. Open your bible and read it. Meditate on the word and hear the preaching (Psalm 1:2). And may the true miracle of Pentecost continue on.
