The Day of Pentecost, 2008
Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier
Acts 2:1-21
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
At the baptism of Jesus the Holy Spirit descended bodily in the form of a dove. Now on the day of Pentecost He appeared bodily in the form of fire. John the Baptizer was sent to the Jordan to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon the Messiah. When the Holy Spirit marked Jesus as the One who is the light of the world, John preached Jesus to the people of Israel. John baptized with water while Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended, the Apostles and disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them. Now they were to be the light to the world and the Apostles were sent out to preach Jesus to all nations.
In our second reading from the book of Acts, we hear how the disciples all gathered together on that day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit manifested Himself with the sound of a mighty rushing wind and divided tongues as of fire resting upon each one of them. Now the text says that all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus, it was not only the twelve Apostles, but all the disciples that were gathered were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were then able to miraculously speak in other tongues meaning languages that they had not previously been able to speak.
After seeing this miraculous event and hearing the Gospel proclaimed in their own languages, our text tells us that the people in Jerusalem that day were perplexed and amazed. The text goes on to explain that there were two types of responses to this work of the Holy Spirit. The first is to embrace it and meditate upon it desiring to grow in understanding of it. The first groups, like good Lutherans studying the catechism, they asked the question, “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12, ESV) See, ever since the day of Pentecost, there were pastors and catechumens studying the revealed knowledge of God. Now understand this, to be Lutheran doesn’t mean that you have all the answers. Rather, to be Lutheran means that you continue to study the teaching of the Apostles, continue to ask the question, “What does this mean?” and continue to hear the Word of God for the answer. Please keep in mind that Confirmation is not graduation from the Christian Faith. No, it is the affirmation that you desire to continue to be a student of the Word of God, continue to cling to the promise of the Gospel, and continue to say “This is most certainly true.” You are publicly professing your desire to truly be disciples of Jesus.
Now we said that there were two ways in which the people responded to the Apostles’ teaching. One way was to ask more questions and the other way was to reject the teaching. These two responses continue into our day. People either receive or reject the message of the Apostles. In our text, the second group mocks the teaching of the Apostles and disregards it by quickly dismissing it. The second group says, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:13, ESV) They don’t care what it means. They think that they have all the answers. Let us not put obstacles in the way of hearing the Word of God and thus hindering the work of the Holy Spirit in our own lives.
Notice how the Apostle Peter addresses these two groups. He says, “Lend me you ears and listen to what I have to say.” “These men are not drunk as you suppose. First, Peter removes the obstacle that the skeptics have created. He assures them that they are not drunk. Second, Peter quotes to us from the Old Testament Scriptures. Just like the catechism classes that we have recently completed, Peter answers the question “What does this mean?” by directing the hearers to the answer in the Word of God. He quotes from the book of the prophet Joel in the Old Testament. The events that were unfolding before their eyes were done in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Joel had said, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Later in the same chapter of the book of Acts, Peter, who was sent by the Lord, will preach salvation in the name of Jesus. Upon hearing this message of Good News there will be those who believe and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation.
So on this day, we celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in the church in those days and His continued work in the church now. In the Small Catechism we ask ourselves what it means to say that we believe in the Holy Spirit. Once again today, let us ask the question and meditate upon the answer. Please turn to page 323 in your hymnal. “What does this mean?” Let us read together the answer to the question, “What does this mean?” “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.”
The Father sent the Son in order to die for the sins of the world. The Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost and continues to send the Holy Spirit into the hearts of believers. The Spirit continues to work through His Word. Through this Word, He convicts the world of sin. The law of God demands that we live without sin and then condemns us for failing. Through the law the Holy Spirit continues to create thirst in our hearts for Him. In like manner, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts through the word of the Gospel comforting us and assuring us that in the name of Jesus alone there is forgiveness of all of our sins. In this way, living water flows out from the heart. The Holy Spirit quenches the thirst.
We can all relate to the understanding of thirst. Now you maybe or may not be thirsty for water at this very instant. In fact, you could go through a whole day without being thirsty for water. Yet we have access to water all the time. There’s running water at out houses. There’s running water here. We don’t think much of it. In fact, it is not uncommon to go to a restaurant and not even drink the water that is set before you. The waiter or waitress will come out with a tall glass of ice water and then you’ll order hot coffee or hot tea because you’re just not in the mood for plain water. But, have you ever been working out at the gym, running, hiking and worked up a thirst? Then, you are thirsty for water. And it seems that only water can really quench your thirst. After being out in the sun, you wouldn’t even think of drinking down a cup of hot coffee or hot tea. I can remember as a kid at baseball practice. I had such an incredible thirst for water and there was nothing I would rather drink than water out of the drinking fountain. It tasted so good. In like manner, by nature we do not have a thirst for God’s Word. But, the Holy Spirit works in out lives to produce a thirst and a desire for relief from our sin.
Thus, the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel and places us in the Holy Church so that we can continue to drink of the well of eternal life. The Holy Spirit continues to enlighten, sanctify, and keep us until the day of the resurrection of the body. The church is like a mother’s womb in which we are protected, nourished, and carried until the day of maturity in which we are brought out of the womb. In this life we are kept in the church where we are protected by the Holy Spirit, nourished with the Word of God, and carried until the day when we are raised from the tomb. For this reason the church has been affectionately referred to as our mother. We are children of the promise. St. Paul states in Romans chapter eight, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God," (Romans 8:16, ESV) To the Word of God that assures us of salvation in the name of Jesus we rightly respond in faith by saying, “This is most certainly true.” Amen.
