I will pour out my Spirit
Acts 2:14-21
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’
I wonder if the timeline of events is significant here in this passage. Pentecost happened 50 days after Jesus was crucified. He appeared to the disciples two days after he died on the cross, on the third day, alive and in his resurrected body. Jesus made a point of revisiting the disciples, especially Thomas, eight days later (see John 20:26). Jesus then appeared to the disciples again and again over 40 days after His resurrection (See Acts 1:3).
Two, plus eight, plus forty…
It is as if this wonderful Jesus can barely tear Himself away from those He loves but does so to give the Holy Spirit the quickest baton change. “I will not abandon you”, Jesus promised (see John 14:18) and He kept that promise. Is it any wonder the Holy Spirit enters our world within a mighty windstorm and tongues to fire? – look at the speed at which He fell upon the disciples! It’s like Jesus was saying to the Holy Spirit, “You’ve got to get down there – like right now!” And it is not just for the disciples. This blessing, this power, this immeasurable gift of the Holy Spirit is for all people who will believe in Jesus. Have I asked to be filled today? Have you? Words can’t begin to express how much He wants to fill your life today and how ready He is to come if you only ask (see Luke 11:13).
Holy Spirit, please come and pour into my life today. Fill me up with the presence and power of Jesus for the benefit of all around me.
Amen
Written by B van Noppen
B
You again challenge my thinking with powerful “word pictures”. I have not previously seen the exit of Jesus and arrival of the Holy Spirit described as a baton change.
I am challenged and forced to think deeply about God’s plan. Thank you.
Rgds Andrew