Good weekend to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
There are occasions when certain places in our world are overrun with visitors, especially when those cities host major sporting events such as the Olympics or Super Bowl or World Cup. I left you yesterday in Jerusalem about 2000 years ago, during one of those times. It was the Shavuot/Pentecost festival and Acts 2:5 reports: “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” This great festival often lasted more than a week, as thousands who had gathered were not anxious to leave.
But this Shavuot/Pentecost festival has been unlike any before in history. Why? As we’ve seen in the past few days, (Acts 2:1-41) God selected this gathering of humanity, from all parts of the known world, as the perfect time to send His Holy Spirit and birth the church Jesus promised would be His ‘ekklesia’ which HE would build and “and the gates of Hades would not prevail.” (Matt. 16:18)
Often in the Bible we see God do something that is so far beyond what we could have imagined that it not only shows God’s power and God’s sovereignty over all things at all times, but it demonstrates God’s strategic genius. This Pentecost event is certainly one of those times. Why? Because repeatedly Jesus had said that His God given ‘Redemption mission’ for which He came to earth; lived a sinless life; taught God’s truth; died an atonement death; was raised to life and ascended back to heaven… was by God’s design to provide deliverance from sin and eternal life with God in heaven for ANY and ALL people of the entire world, in every generation!! (John 3:16)
Yet very, very few people in the first century believed that. Most believed God’s offer of redemption was perhaps for only devout Jews, but probably not for Gentiles. But if, perchance, God might be willing to consider salvation for Gentiles, certainly that would not include slaves or soldiers or criminals or the disabled or the poor…would it?
When the Holy Spirit came to Jerusalem in power, and this huge gathering of people from every corner of the Roman empire heard the Holy Spirit anointed disciples and others speaking the truths of Jesus in their native languages only spoken in the farthest regions of the empire, it was obvious God was making a very clear statement. What statement? The inclusive statement that with God WHOEVER means every living person is eligible with NO exceptions!
God was also making a strategic statement. What statement? That when God wants His message declared in EVERY language of the world to every nation of the world, God can accomplish that in short order! Have you ever thought about how many different places, hundreds of miles away from Jerusalem, were hearing the story of Pentecost and the message of Jesus only a few weeks after that Shavuot/Pentecost festival?
How is that possible with no global communication systems? Well, all those thousands who had gathered in Jerusalem went home and took with them the story of what they had seen and heard in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came!!
Dr. Luke, the Greek physician author of the book of Acts, records that: “Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized and about 3000 were added to their number that day.“ (Acts 2:41) I presume Peter and all the disciples led those who responded to Peter’s message to the various pools in Jerusalem, including the pool of Siloam, (John 9:7) and the pools of Bethesda, (John 5:2) and perhaps others, where these people were then baptized. Can you imagine those scenes and the widespread excitement all around Jerusalem and surrounding towns and villages?
This event birthed what Jesus had spoken when He said to His disciples at Caesarea Philippi, several months before: “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) Here, in this Pentecost day response of 3000 people, in the very same Jerusalem the crowd had called for Jesus’ crucifixion; the same Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again… here Jesus birthed His church.
By the end of that Pentecost day these 3000 baptized followers of Jesus were added to the 120 who had been in that place together when the Holy Spirit came upon them. (Acts 2:1-4) But then what happened?
Luke’s record says: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles…” (Acts 2:42,43) So that tells me these 3000 people suddenly had an insatiable appetite for understanding. They had been so resistant to the concept that Jesus might be their Messiah. They had called for His death!
Now they needed to learn as much truth about Jesus and the story of His life and ministry as they could… FAST! Why fast? Because many would be leaving within a few days, returning home to the far corners of the Roman empire. Also, because many of these Galilean friends of Jesus who had come for Shavuot/Pentecost and been anointed by the Holy Spirit, needed to go back to their homes as well in the Galilee.
So that’s why it appears that immediately, the very next day, and for many days following, large groups gathered around Peter and each of the disciples, asking lots of questions. Suddenly, I’m sure the disciples felt totally inadequate and wished they had paid much closer attention to all Jesus had said and done. But do you remember, my friends, Jesus had promised His disciples “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you….When He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (John 14:26; 16:13) And that’s what these normal, ordinary disciples experienced.
From morning till night, for several days, these simple fishermen, anointed by the Holy Spirit, told the story of Jesus and His miracles and His messages as the Spirit of God guided their memories and their tongues! As far as we know, no one had taken any notes as they walked along with Jesus! Now, I’m sure, they wished they had!
But not only was the Holy Spirit anointing the disciples as they taught, the Holy Spirit was opening the minds and hearts of these hundreds of new believers in Jesus, helping them learn very quickly, especially as they explained the Scriptures and how Jesus fulfilled them! I believe they experienced the same miracle the two disciples had experienced with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:27,32) Let’s pause here my friends and ask some important questions.
1. Have you experienced the transformation these people in Jerusalem experienced?
Have you repented of your sin, fully trusted in the death of Jesus Christ to pay your sin debt with God, and experienced the new birth work of the Holy Spirit? (John 3:3-7)
2. Have you been baptized and have you given public proclamation of your certainty of your salvation and have you declared your allegiance to Jesus as your Savior and Lord?
3. Have you received the Holy Spirit of God sent into your life by Jesus and have you seen the changes He has been bringing into your life as you desire to live for God’s glory?
4. Has the Spirit given you an insatiable hunger for understanding God’s Word the Bible and knowing Jesus Christ in a deeply personal, vibrant relationship?
Our purpose in “Walking with Jesus” is to help you answer YES to all those, and daily walk in a growing relationship with Jesus. Our “Lessons Learned” notes below will help you, as will the worship song I’ve selected for today, and let’s meet here again on Monday as we continue with Jesus and these new Christ followers in Jerusalem.
Today’s Scripture: Acts 2:36-43.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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