Good weekend to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
When was the last time you were ‘filled with awe’? Holding a newborn baby only a few moments outside the womb? Watching a magnificent sunset or sunrise? Standing in a blizzard or a hurricane? Oh there are so many things that can almost take our breath away, but what about ‘spiritual awe’?
Once again, come with me back to Jerusalem, about 2000 years ago, during the Pentecost weekend, as recorded in Acts 2. Through the past several days we’ve sought to quite thoroughly understand what happened which caused ‘awe’ to abound in that city as the Holy Spirit of God first anointed 120 followers of Jesus, and then 3000 repentant Jews experienced the ‘spiritual transformation’ work of the Holy Spirit.
Luke makes this remarkable summary statement: “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.” (Acts 2:43) Now up to this moment in the Biblical record, we have little specific evidence of what these ‘wonders and signs’ may have been, other than the remarkable Holy Spirit ‘linguistic miracle’ of Galileans speaking the Gospel of Jesus truths in languages they did not know but languages known by visitors to Jerusalem, from far distant places in the Roman empire. (Acts 2:6-12)
But over the next several chapters of Acts Luke gives us the accounts of miraculous healings (Acts 3:6-10; 5:16) and even a dead person raised to life (Acts 9:32-42) by the power of God unleashed through the apostles. Yes, awe inspiring things were happening in Jerusalem!
Jesus had become quite famous because of His miracles of healings, sight to blind people and even raising dead people to life, and Jesus had privately told the disciples on that Thursday evening in the upper room, that through their faith in God and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they too would do amazing things as He had done. (John 14:12) I’ve often wondered what the disciples thought Jesus meant by that promise when they sat around the table with Him that Thursday evening?
But then weeks later, around the table again, the resurrected Jesus had said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Shortly thereafter, Jesus left them, ascending into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and 10 days later the Holy Spirit of God came in great power upon these disciples, and then upon 3000 Jews who believed their message and had seen the miracle of the arrival of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-41)
The words of Jesus were becoming awe inspiring reality. These disciples were courageously giving accurate witness to anyone who would hear them, regarding WHO Jesus was, God the Son incarnate, the Messiah, and WHAT they learned from being with Jesus. Their courage and message was evidently awe inspiring in Jerusalem during and after that Pentecost weekend. But 3000 ‘spiritually transformed’ Jews were also a radical, awesome evidence of the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem in those days!
Clearly Acts 2 does not contain the detail of ALL the miraculous things happening in Jerusalem which were causing people to be filled with awe! Luke next reports this: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the Temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” (Acts 2:44-47)
Let’s remember Jerusalem was filled to overflowing with thousands of Jews who had traveled to Jerusalem for the great Jewish festival “Shavuot” (Pentecost) which followed 50 days after the greatest festival of all, Passover. “Shavuot” celebrated God’s goodness to His people as He provided all that was needed for bountiful harvests yielding sufficient food for God’s people. It was important to God that His people never take for granted God’s miraculous work for providing crops in such an arid part of the world.
Hospitality and Generosity were two deeply rooted values in the Jewish culture so when these thousands of people arrived, residents of Jerusalem and surrounding towns opened their hearts, their arms, their homes, and their kitchens. It really was remarkable, but what Jerusalem was watching happen with these 3000 Jewish believers in Jesus took Jewish hospitality and generosity to a whole new level! Did you see the words Luke used to describe it? “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Selfishness and greed were nonexistent! New Christians even sold their possessions to give money or buy food for those in need! That is another evidence of the ‘spiritual transformation’ the Holy Spirit accomplishes in a person who is overwhelmed with God’s generosity and the selflessness of Jesus who gave up everything, including His life, for us!
Did you notice Luke said those living this remarkable movement experienced an unexpected response from Jerusalem and from God: “they enjoyed the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47)
The miracle of “spiritual transformation” kept happening as more and more people were attracted to what the Holy Spirit was accomplishing. “Spiritual transformation” became ‘spiritual reproduction” as Jesus Himself did what He had promised. Remember Jesus had said “I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail.” (Matt. 16:18) We need to pause again and I hope we are each filled with awe as we place ourselves in the middle of this miraculous movement of God! Could it be God is about to once again do such miraculous things where you or I live? Are we ready to be part of it?
Here’s a song that captures what was happening in Jerusalem those days. Oh may it happen again, soon!!
Today’s Scripture: Acts 2:41-47.
Choose below to read or listen.
 |  |
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)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.