Wednesday 25 June 2025
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” (v. 12)
Background
The Day of Pentecost is one of the pivotal moments in the life of the Church. The disciples have witnessed Jesus ascend to heaven. They know that Jesus has said that the Holy Spirit will come to them, but they don’t know, when, how, or really much at all about this.
The focus just before this has been on internal reorganisation. They were one disciple short following Judas' death and appointed Matthias as Judas’ successor.
‘Suddenly’ (v. 2) God intervenes and internal reorganisation is no longer a priority. The disciples immediately have the confidence and ability to share the good news of Jesus with all who are in the area for this Jewish festival, and to do this supernaturally using the numerous languages that these people speak.
Often in the New Testament we find the solution to the problems that are shown to us in the Hebrew scriptures and here we have the way to overcome the divisions of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), where humanity was scattered and spoke in different languages. The inability to understand each other was overcome on the Day of Pentecost.
But that doesn’t mean we all fully understand what was going on here. On that day the sound was "like the blowing of a violent wind" (v. 2) and the sight was "what seemed to be tongues of fire" (v. 3). These were the nearest equivalents but didn’t fully capture what was going on. And the crowds have a mixed response. Many would believe, but some laughed thinking they were hearing drunks babbling. In general, they didn’t know just what was happening.
Do we today fully understand what was happening? Is our experience something similar to the disciples in being overwhelmed by God’s Spirit? Are we confused by this event?Do we long for an experience like this that doesn’t quite seem to come? Being in the place of not fully knowing is uncomfortable, but is perhaps part of what it means to walk by faith. I would love it if my normal Sunday experience was something like the day of Pentecost. I’d love to be regularly "lost in wonder, love and praise" as the hymn writer Charles Wesley put it. But I’m not. I don’t understand or experience all there is, but every day I know I am one day more in God’s presence, and that one day everything will be fully known by me in heaven.
To Ponder:
- What is your Pentecostal experience? When have you experienced a situation when the only answer is that God was clearly at work?
- How well do you cope with not fully understanding many aspects of being a follower of Jesus?
Prayer
Gracious God, show us more of your presence and power. Help us to look for more and not be fearful. Help us to recognise your work in our lives and those around us. And give us enough understanding for today. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Stephen Skuce
Stephen is the Superintendent of the North Western District of The Methodist Church in Ireland.