After Easter – Pentecost Sunday

The promise delivered, the resurrection realized

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1, 4).

Fifty days! That was the exact count of days from the Passover to the Day of Pentecost. In the course of busy lives fifty days seem like ages. That’s seven weeks on our calendar. A lot can happen in that amount of time. Fifty days ago we were in the celebrating Easter. I’ve been writing about it ever since. I’m sure for some it seems like we have run the subject in the ground. Isn’t it time to move on!

And so it was in the first century. I’m sure there were those in that day who were ready to get on with life and move the news of the resurrection into an archived file of past history. But the resurrection was never intended to be just history!

It was Jesus’ purpose to keep the resurrection as a current event. Returning from the grave and being seen of so many people after His resurrection kept the news alive. Then just a week before Pentecost He suddenly left, but not without leaving instructions for them all to wait for the promise!

The only way to make the resurrection real and keep the event current is to experience the resurrection continually. The promise of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers served that purpose. Not only would they experience the initial fulfillment of that promise but they would continue to experience the impact of a changed life by the continued presence of Christ living in them. This was current and real evidence of the resurrection refreshed daily in their lives.

After two thousand years the resurrection is still fresh news to believers around the world. The weekly worship celebration on the first day of the week commemorates the anniversary of the resurrection. It is no accident that we meet on Sunday for worship. The tradition must never replace the reality of new experience.

It is more than a tradition that we gather for worship, sing our songs, and recite our verses. Let every worship session be a celebration of current experience. The resurrected Lord is here among us and fills our lives with His power. On Pentecost Sunday and every other day of the year be filled with His Spirit and be a witness that He lives!