Pentecost 2020

John 14:23-31

May 31, 2020

Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, ID

On this day of Pentecost, we celebrate the great blessing shown to us by the Holy Spirit through the universal preaching of the Gospel.  On this day of Pentecost, the Christian church remembers how a beginning was made with a gentle breeze and fiery tongues upon the Disciples so that they would go out into all the world and proclaim the mighty works of God. On this day of Pentecost, we have a reminder of our own heavenly birthday by the Holy Spirit through the waters of baptism, and of the continual work of that Spirit throughout our lives.

On this day of Pentecost, we also get to witness the confirmation of two young Christians, wherein they confess again the faith delivered to them so many years ago in their baptism. We have the unique joy to celebrate with them in their first reception of the Lord’s body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar.  The peace that Jesus promises in the Gospel reading today is yours. This is why after the words of intuition the body and blood are held up to you and the blessing is given, “The peace of the Lord be with you always.” This is not wishful thinking, or some future reality. This is literally God’s peace between you and Him, the peace of God which passes all understanding, delivered to you personally in the body and blood of Jesus Christ.  

We hear the promises, and the Holy Spirit works in us.  He gives us the gift of hope. We hear the Word of Christ’s death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit pulls us from the world and leads us closer to Jesus.  When the eyes of our faith are fixed on Him, no matter what is going on around us, when the fear and anxiety of this present age fills our hearts, when God Himself seems hidden from us, we turn to Him with our cries. The Spirit gives us a lively, active faith that looks to Jesus. Hold fast to Jesus’ words and the reality He brings, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” 

Easier said than done, at least for us.  But not so for God.  And so God the Father sends God the Spirit in the name of God the Son for this blessing, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.”  The Holy Spirit has to ignite such a love in our hearts, to stir up a holy love for the Lord, for His Word.  For love is a fruit of the spirit, as St. Paul says in Gal 5:22.  Since the Holy Spirit motivates us to love God, He also motivates us to love our neighbor. For true love of God does not exist without love for the neighbor. 

“If anyone loves Me… My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”  The Holy Spirit also makes us into His temple, the dwelling place of God. As St. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 3:16, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” For the Holy Spirit is likened to the soul of the Church.  In a living body there must be a soul. The soul gives life, for as soon as the soul leaves the body, the body is dead.  So the Holy Spirit is the Lord and giver of life.

But Jesus also calls the Holy Spirit the Helper, the Comforter.  He is the Helper who comforts us before God Himself, who enlightens and sanctifies us with His gifts.  When we are down in the dumps, when the devil accuses us because of our sins, the Holy Spirit upholds us so we don’t plunge into despair and disbelief.  That is why St. Paul says in 2 Cor 1:21 that we are secured in Christ by the Holy Spirit. Not only does the Spirit enliven the Christian, but He keeps us with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

Part of that keeping is the continually growth as a disciple of Jesus.  Confirmation is not the end of anything, but rather the continuance of your life of faith now nourished by the Sacrament.  The Spirit teaches us the art and life of a Christian, which is not one of mere knowledge of the Bible, but that, in a faith, a person tastes and sees the goodness of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 proclaims, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit, the Teacher as Jesus calls Him, who will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that Christ have said to you. 

The whole point of Scripture, the main theme that runs throughout are the mighty deeds of God centered on the life and work of Jesus and your reception of His free gifts by faith.  This was the content of the message of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, culminating in these words, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus delivered up according o the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it” (Acts 2:22-24). 

After hearing this good news, the crowds asked, “Brothers, what shall we do? And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself’” (Acts 2:37b-39).  

You have done this, rather, that has been done to you.  You who are baptized in the name of Christ have received His Holy Spirit.  You are recipients of the gift of His promises, you have been called by God to Himself for a life of faith in Him and love for others; fed, nourished, and strengthen by the body and blood of Christ to life everlasting.