You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’
by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.
John 3:8 (The Message)
A mighty gust, some gentle breezes,Either blows wherever it pleases.In silence passing, roaring through,Hidden still, this Wind chooses you,
From south to north or west to east,
From weak to strong or more to least,
Invisible, with power to
Break and mend, this Wind comes to you.
Quietly with intense yearning,
The Wind flames a fire burning
Within the soul, consuming dross
That calls repentance to the cross.
From south to north or west to east,
From weak to strong or more to least,
This Perfect Love endures each nail
Which reconciles and rends the veil.
Infinitely bolder than deep,
Broader than wide, higher than steep,
Holy Wind, hold each empty place,
Mend my soul with marvelous Grace. ~Donna OswaltSpirit of God,
Despite my sin - resume the call – define my heart!
Delight my mind – assume my sin – design my life!
Ignite the fire - consume the dross - refine my soul!
Invisible and Indescribable and Invincible! Take me now! ~dho
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages. Acts 2:1-4
Many people crowd Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish "Festival of First Fruits" which is 50 days after Passover. The Ten Commandments had been given to Moses 50 days after they had crossed the Red Sea; escaping Egyptian captivity established Passover. The city is full of "Jews from every nation", and as they hear this sound of "a violent wind", the masses of people seem confused because each one hears "their own language being spoken". Amazed and bewildered, we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own languages.
As promised, the Holy Spirit fills them, flows over them, and they burn with passion for God. Peter explains the prophecy from Isaiah, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people." (Isaiah 44:3) He goes on the tell the Gospel Story of Jesus, Son of God, Messiah for all people. He tells the Greatest Story in history for a broken people, defines a New Covenant to a covenant people, reaches across generations of faith, crosses boundaries of laws. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit to God's people renews His desire to dwell with His people. This fulfillment of God's Promise begins a new era of faith.
You have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (Hebrews 12:22). This New Covenant blesses God's people with grace, something the law could never do. The Helper, the Advocate, the Comforter, the Counselor, the Intercessor, the Spirit of Truth - the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and now testifies about Christ. Hundreds of years before, God had revealed himself to the Israelites, writing the Ten Commandments on stone tablets with His own finger, and now at this Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus's resurrection, God writes on the hearts of Believers with the Holy Spirit. From the birth of a nation to the birth of the church, God's redemptive plan is for them, their children, for us, our children, for all! On that day in Jerusalem, about 3,000 believed. - dho
**This Sunday, May 15 we celebrate Pentecost!
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:14
After Jesus ascends, the disciples gather in Jerusalem and wait! The believers, including the disciples, the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, the brothers of Jesus, meet together fervently praying and waiting. There are now 120 believers (Acts 1:15). The disciples need to replace Judas Iscariot, the one who had betrayed Jesus. Considering the parameters, to be a witness of the resurrection (Acts 1:21-22), after prayer Matthias becomes the 12th disciple. These days of waiting are the beginning of the Christian church. For now, they wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
In the waiting, Jesus words, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes likely replays in their minds, enters their discussions, and holds a prominent place in their prayers. In the waiting, perhaps they wonder exactly when and how this will happen. As they welcome Matthias into the inner circle, maybe they retell Jesus' words before He ascended into heaven or discuss what being witnesses "to the ends of the earth" might look like or perhaps they even recall those other times that Jesus had told them about sending the Holy Spirit. While waiting for something they could not fully grasp, for a power they could not exactly define, for a moment they could not completely predict, they pray.
Henri Nouwen writes about waiting as moments "pregnant with possibility" and "giving up all my attempts to control". Describing waiting as "a period of learning", Nouwen is not defining waiting as passive, rather as an active period of time, a vital and engaged time, a time of patience. He says, "patient people dare to stay where they are. Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there." The new believers of the first church actively wait in prayer and preparation, together in community and fellowship, with an assurance from Christ. I long to be better at waiting, to be more present in the moments of hope, to be patient in the silences, to find freedom in allowing the Spirit of God to lead me. How about you? How do you WAIT? ~dho
"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Acts 1:8-9 NKJV
Most scholars agree the Ascension of Jesus occurs on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem, the highest point in the area. Other references to the Mt. of Olives draw our attention to this place of importance. In Zechariah 14, the prophet pictures a restored Jerusalem and a Divine Warrior who will rescue Israel. Shadows of Christ's earthly ministry and the Messiah's Second Coming point to certain victory with, "The the LORD will go out and fight against those nations... On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem..." (14:3-4) Since ancient times, many Jews have wanted to be buried here. Jewish tradition believes "that when the Messiah comes, the resurrection of the dead will begin on the Mount of Olives. There are more than 150,000 graves currently there, including some notable rabbis, and the Tomb of the Prophets which is said to contain the remains of Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi.
Scripture records Jesus at the Mount of Olives on various occasions during His earthly ministry. In Mark 13 and Matthew 24, sitting on the Mount of Olives Jesus delivers what Biblical historians call the "Olivet Discourse" as He explains the "Signs of the End of the Age" to the disciples. On Palm Sunday as Jesus leaves Bethany and enters Jerusalem descending from the Mt. of Olives, He weeps for Jerusalem. The Garden of Gethsemane is at the foot of the Mount of Olives, and Jesus prays there prior to the crucifixion. It is here He is betrayed by Judas. In prophecy and prophecy fulfilled, the Mount of Olives becomes a place of importance.
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus is taken up to Heaven in the presence of His apostles. The Ascension of Jesus, Ascensio Iesu, is one of the 5 major events in the earthly ministry of Jesus that define Him as the Son of God, His baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion, and resurrection being the others. During the last evening the disciples and Jesus spend together before the crucifixion, at least three times He speaks about the coming of the Holy Spirit. (see John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7) In John 16:7 Jesus says, "...Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." Much has happened since that night. On the Mount of Olives, Christ gives authority and assigns the mission to His apostles, telling them to be His witnesses and take the Gospel message to all people, to all nations. In Luke 24:50-53 we read that Jesus blesses them and then is taken up into heaven; "Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy." Scripture describes the fellowship and assurance the apostles carry back to the other believers as they prayerfully wait in community for the coming of the Holy Spirit. ~dho
Jesus said, " it is written that, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day, ... You are witnesses of these things." Luke 24:46-48
Numerous and reliable historical records, both religious and secular, speak of Christ's resurrection. Biblically, the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) which were written 20-30 years afterwards, and the Gospel of John (50-70 years after) list many witnesses to this supernatural event. The book of Acts and Paul's writings also make references to witnesses. Details in Luke come from "the early disciples and other eyewitnesses". In contrast to the rumors of the disciples stealing Jesus' body and bribes that the Chief Priests pay the guards to pass along this story, God carefully crafts official records of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection making sure accurate historical evidence remains.
Of the many eyewitnesses, there are angels, Mary Magdalene, the disciples, the two on the road to Emmaus, and other believers. During the forty days after His resurrection, Jesus shows himself to the apostles "by many convincing proofs...speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:2-3) They ate with Him, touched Him, listened to Him teach. According to John 20:30-31, "Jesus' disciples saw Him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these were written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life." John's testifies, "This is that disciple who saw these events and recorded them here. (John 21:24)
From the Scriptures we know that Jesus' brothers did not believe (John 7:3-5) until after His death. Through Paul's writings we know that Jesus appears to His brother James, who later becomes head of the Jerusalem church. In 1 Corinthians 15:6 Paul notes that "more than 500 of His followers" witness Jesus after the crucifixion. And the final eyewitness to Christ's resurrection is Saul on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians.(Acts 9:1-19) The zealous Pharisee with a history of violent persecution of Christians is renamed Paul. When reason doubts and culture discounts even the possibility of resurrection, history's eyewitnesses establish a detailed archive that prevails for more than 2,000 years.
So what stands today as evidence of Jesus' resurrection besides words on paper? We are the proof! The Holy Spirit sent by the living Christ dwells within each believer. With our testimonies of redemption and everlasting life to come, we become the spiritual witnesses of a resurrected Messiah, contemporary vessels of His Presence. The living Christ embodies the hope and peace and love we find by believing in Him. The resurrection is an integral truth of Christianity, a truth confirmed by eyewitnesses. ~dho
He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly from the tomb and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead ...So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples." Matthew 28:6-8 ESV
Christ's death on the cross shouts of miraculous events from darkness to the tearing of the Temple's curtain in the Holy of Holies, from an earthquake to people rising from the dead. The Roman officer and soldiers at the crucifixion, "were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, 'Truly, this was the Son of God!'" (Mt: 27:54) Religious leaders who were secret followers of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, boldly ask Pilate for the body of Jesus for proper burial. From Friday until Sunday, fear dominates the hearts and minds of Jesus' own disciples. On Sunday the message of the angel, "He is risen!", echoes in the empty tomb.
All four Gospels speak of the empty tomb, of angels, of the resurrection of Jesus. First to learn of the resurrection are the women who come to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body for burial. In John's account (chapter 20) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden. Jesus joins the two returning to Emmaus, both are disillusioned that Jesus has been crucified. As they walk together, Jesus explains the Scriptures and prophecies about the Messiah. Invited to eat with them, they recognize Jesus when He blesses the bread. They hurry back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples. Jesus appears to the disciples who are in hiding in fear, greeting them, "Peace be with you." The angels' message to go and tell that Jesus is risen from the dead spreads throughout the region.
Jesus remains on earth for 40 days after His resurrection. Initially, the story of His resurrection sounds absurd and hard to believe, but the Good News of Jesus' victory over death changes doubt into wonder and fear into joy! Jesus teaches the disciples, opening their minds to the the Scriptures that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. He reminds them the Holy Spirit will soon come and empower them. This message of forgiveness and everlasting life are for all people. These followers of Jesus, these witnesses of a risen Savior begin to tell the story of resurrection and hope! This story of extravagant love still brings grace today. ~dho
A mighty gust, some gentle breezes,
