What Does This Mean?

Pentecost, June 8, 2014


Acts 2:1–21
1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

On Pentecost, the disciples were proclaiming the “the mighty works of God” so that everyone could hear them in their own native tongue. And the people were amazed and astonished and asked, “What does this mean?” This is also the question in the Small Catechism which proclaims the mighty works of God. For example, the First Commandment:

You shall have no other gods.
What does this mean? We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.
Or the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven.
What does this mean? With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.

So today, let’s look at the Pentecost story in Acts Two and ask, “What does this mean?”

First it was Pentecost. “What does this mean?” Pentecost comes 50 days after Passover. It was a religious, national holiday. It celebrated two things: the barley harvest, and the historical event of the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. At the Passover, the Israelites fled Egypt, and after 7 weeks they were at Mt. Sinai in the wilderness. The Law that God gave Moses was a covenant promise. The covenant begins, Exodus 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 You shall have no other gods before me.” And then the covenant life style of the Israelites is the Ten Commandments. God promises to be their God, with all that it means to be their God: protection, blessings, etc. The people promise to serve their God. That is the Old Covenant or the Old Testament. We Christians celebrate the New Covenant. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin.” This covenant was not given on Mt. Sinai, but rather on Mt. Calvary. This also is what we Christians celebrate today in Holy Communion.

The disciples were all gathered in one place. “What does this mean?” They had gathered in prayer and remembered what Jesus had taught them. They were looking forward to the promised Holy Spirit.

Then, “2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” “What does this mean?” This was a great way for the Holy Spirit to make an entrance. Let me explain. In the Bible languages of both Hebrew and Greek, the word for “spirit” can also mean “wind” and “breath.” So, the Holy “Spirit” should come as a mighty “wind” and give “breath” to the disciples to proclaim the Word of God.

Then, “3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” “What does this mean?” Often times in religious paintings, the saints have a glowing halo around their head. Such a halo could be caused by the fire of the Holy Spirit. But at Pentecost it is described not as halos but as “tongues as of fire.” And those tongues of fire “spirit”-ually set the disciples on fire so that their own tongues proclaimed the Gospel in various languages, in various tongues. I think puns are fun! But, “What does this mean?” Do you remember the story of Moses? Before God appeared to Moses on Mt. Sinai to give him the Covenant, he appeared to Moses at the foot of the mountain in the burning bush. That fire did not consume the bush, just like the Pentecost flames of the Holy Spirit did not harm the disciples. From the fire of the bush, God spoke to Moses. He promised to free his people from slavery in Egypt. Again, God the Holy Spirit speaks through people and through fire to proclaim the freedom from slavery of sin and the devil.

Then, “4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” “What does this mean?” I think that there is something that day more important than the disciples speaking in tongues. It is what one of the members of the crowd said, “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” People heard the Gospel. They heard it in a way they so that they could really understand it. Peter proclaimed the Gospel. He told about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. And he told what that meant. It meant that Jesus was both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). And that meant forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation (2:38).

There were scoffers who made fun of the disciples. “What does this mean?” 13… “They are filled with new wine.” Even today there are people who have the chance to hear the Gospel clearly spoken, but who refuse to believe. It is as if the scoffers who are the ones who are filled with new wine. In their drunken stupor of sin, they cannot understand the true meaning of the Gospel. Or rather, they refuse to see the meaning because then they would see their own sin. They do not want to take the responsibility of crucifying Jesus. They do not want to repent. And so they mock and scoff. And so they are left in their sin and without salvation.

But the disciples were filled [not with alcoholic spirits but] with the newness of the Holy Spirit. “What does this mean?” It meant that they heard the message of Holy Spirit in that wind and fire. They understood that the Old Covenant was fulfilled in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. And they knew that the prophecy of Joel had been fulfilled: “21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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