A Mighty Rushing Wind

Today was Pentecost Sunday! Today we celebrated the beginning of the Christian church as we know it. What a glorious time for the people who witnessed the moment when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and what a wonderful gift that was for all the generations that have followed.

Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day (the seventh Sunday) from Easter Sunday. It "commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks as described in Acts 2: 1-31."

The account details that there was a mighty rushing wind (wind being a common symbol for the Holy Spirit) and tongues as of fire appeared. The gathered disciples were "filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" In Christian tradition, "this event represents fulfillment of the promise that Christ will baptize his followers with the Holy Spirit."

From that moment they would go out to share the word of Jesus Christ with the world as they knew it then. Significantly, that effort continues today through the work of missionaries and pastors and others who want to tell the story and spread the good news.

Dr. Tomlinson, who leads our Bible Study and presented the sermon today, shared that those of us who have been saved and baptized have the Holy Spirit in us and the ability to share the Gospel ourselves. We are compelled to do this.

That is our challenge as we approach this week.

June 5, 2022