The Holy Spirit our Helper and Comforter
The Day of Pentecost
It is hard for us to look back at it, two thousand years later, and understand what a big deal Jesus’ coming was to the world. It is easier to read the gospel accounts and imagine Jesus with his band of twelve slightly goofy sidekicks traipsing around Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside having little adventures.
But that is not what happened at all. Israel, or what remained of it, had been waiting for their promised messiah for something like 1600 years. That’s a long time to wait, but fortunately they didn’t have to do it alone. The Holy Spirit had been with them, gradually revealing through the prophets in more and more detail just how their messiah would be. The last of these, John the Baptist, had been preaching in the wilderness up to his capture and execution.
Just like it is difficult for us to understand this change, it was difficult for the believers then also. They had a temple where God sat. They had a recorded history that stretched back to the beginning of time. They had patriarchs and kings who were promised a descendant who would reign forever. So, it’s only natural that they would be underwhelmed by Jesus and his disciples.
Pentecost is when the Holy Spirit energizes the disciples, giving them power to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in ways that would echo around the world for the last two thousand years.
Christ is risen! He has ascended! The Holy Spirit is come! Alleluia!
Here is today’s sermon text from John 14:
25“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
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Announcements
Bible Study: Our midweek Bible study meets on Wednesdays at 7 pm via Zoom and is covering the book of Revelation. Our Sunday morning class meets at 9:45 and is currently discussing the papacy.
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2 Replies to “The Holy Spirit our Helper and Comforter”
How many people have told you that Ephesians 1 has only 23 verses. Please correct this to the correct author.
Thank you for bringing the typo to our attention. We have corrected it.