June 8, 2003

Mindekirken June 8^th 2003
Pastor Jens Arne Dale

John 15.26-27 and 16.4-15

People are often confused when it comes to the question of why we celebrate Pentecost. – Jesus graduated, someone suggested. Ignorance seems to be limitless.

If we consult with the Jews, Pentecost was celebrated because the wheat was harvested. Such a motivation for celebrating Pentecost would hardly be reasonable in Minnesota. Pentecost was later celebrated among Jews to commemorate the law that was given at Mount Sinai.

Considering the laws we have got in Minnesota this spring, there are divided opinions on how much cause we have to celebrate. We might find ourselves in a situation where the "weapon house" (the narthex) would obtain its old significance. But the question today is Pentecost. Why is this a Christian celebration?

The Christian church celebrates Pentecost because God sent the Holy Spirit to the world in a totally new and decisive way. The Spirit changed the disciples’ cowardice into confidence. On the day of Pentecost, the word "mission" got a new and dynamic meaning. In several respects it is right to name Pentecost the birthday of the church.

The Christian church got a flying start as 3000 people were baptized after the big speech of Peter. Pentecost is the experience of the presence of God. The same spirit of God that was given to the apostles is given to us today. Let’s stand as we sing the celebration hymn number 215.

The story of Jesus is fantastic. He healed, comforted and forgave sin. People got back their self-confidence and their faith in God. They were able to live a worthy life with hope and with a future. If we had asked the disciples if it would have been a loss if Jesus would have been taken away from them, the answer would have been self-evident. Jesus was of that kind that was inalienable.

Even so, this was the message of Jesus: It is to your advantage that I go away, John 16.7. Was it really so? Would something even better than having Jesus there live be possible? The answer is YES. Pentecost brought something even better then the presence of Jesus there and then. By leaving his disciples Jesus would be able to be with them in another way. I am coming to you, he said in John 14.18. In his earthly life Jesus was limited by time and space. Through The Holy Spirit the words I am with you all days to the end of ages got a new meaning.

Radio and TV were great inventions. If you had told somebody in the middle ages that one day it would be possible to transfer sound and pictures through the air, he would have shaken his head. If you said it would be possible to be at home, watching the first men walking on the moon, he would have laughed. Pentecost exceeds the invention of TV and radio.

When Jesus went to the Father, he sent the Advocate, The Holy Spirit. It’s not only a matter of transforming something that’s happening another place, it’s a real presence of God within us. Something totally new came to reality in the history of men. In the OT the Spirit was given to elected people, kings and prophets. Through Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out upon all God’s people.

The disciples were to wait in Jerusalem until they had received what the Father had promised, Acts 1.4. Historical events had to happen in order. Jesus birth, death, resurrection and ascension had to take place before the moment was there when God could send the Spirit. On the day of Pentecost the disciples were gathered, most likely in the temple yard. Suddenly a storm came over them, and tongues of fire settled on each of their heads. They were filled with The Holy Spirit and started to speak in other languages.

Do you remember the confusion of Babel? Now the opposite happened. People from all over the world were able to understand what the disciples said. They heard them speak of God’s great works in their own language. Peter held a mighty speech on the day of Pentecost. It pierced them in their hearts when he spoke of how they had crucified Jesus. 3000 people were converted there and then and got baptized. They got forgiveness for their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s text is from Jesus’ teaching about the Holy Spirit. He uses the word Advocate about the Spirit. The term may mean counselor, comforter, helper or advocate. Jesus explains what the Spirit does for the nonbeliever and the believer. He will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment, Jesus said. Imagine a court advocate questioning a terrorist. The terrorist denies all guilt. But as the facts of the case are laid on the table, the accused slowly becomes aware that the things he has done were terribly wrong.

We don’t pay much attention when we sin against God. But confronted with the preached word of God, we may realize that our lives are like sabotage of the will of God. The Holy Spirit convinces us about our sin. It’s interesting to note that the text mentions the sin that really can separate us from the kingdom of God: the sin is that we don’t believe in Jesus. This is what Jesus also calls sin against The Holy Spirit, Matt 12.31.

What did Jesus have in mind when he said that the Spirit would prove the world wrong about righteousness? The Jews thought they got rid of a blasphemous person when Jesus died; the Romans, an enemy of the state. The resurrection proved both wrong. But it wasn’t until the day of Pentecost these really got clear to a great number of people.

The Spirit worked when Peter preached, and people realized that Jesus whom you crucified, God has made both Lord and Messiah, Acts 2.36. When the Spirit was to convince people about the judgment, Jesus had the surrender of the evil one in mind. There is nothing to fear any more. We may lay our lives in God’s hand, he is given all might.

The task of The Holy Spirit is to draw us towards Jesus, so we may receive him as our Savior and Lord. Does this sound dramatic? For some it may be like a bolt of lightning to become a Christian. For others it may be like a sunrise. Light comes any way. The Spirit is given to us in a mysterious way in baptism. To grow up in a Christian connection and to live in faith is a gift from people we are standing close to, but first and foremost from God. Prayer is the breath of Christian life. When we pray, it’s always a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had a lot to teach his friends. But they were not able to learn it all at once. My mother followed my older brother on his first day of school. The teacher advanced pretty fast. She taught the new pupils no less than five letters the very first day at school. Jesus was more patient. He gave the disciples lessons that fit their faith experience. But the Holy Spirit was to continue where Jesus left off. He will guide you into all the truth. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

This doesn’t mean that the church can pound on the table with the whole and full truth in all difficult questions. But the way of salvation is clear. The Bible has brought us all we need in that respect. And we have to admit with Paul that we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, 1 Cor 13.9. But we pray for the guidance of the Spirit, both in questions of our faith life and our lives in this world.

Glory be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716