Here we go, racing towards Pentecost again, that mysterious time of the church year; towards the excitement of all that seems unbelievable -stories of a mighty wind and flames of fire -that, similar to the story of the Burning Bush in earlier Biblical times - happened. The bush was never consumed. Now we have the Pentecost experience which has those same incredible overtones, that as those folk come together, gathered in one place, mysterious things happen, and then disappear again.

But it happened! It happened and it left them certainly changed, but NOT consumed. An amazing time, surely!

Pentecost, then, to us, is a reminder of that time, and of what Jesus intimated to His disciples, which we read in the passage from John's Gospel. Jesus announces the gift of the Holy Spirit - as a Comforter, a Counsellor, an advocate. All these, and more. Important in many ways, and all because, as a substitute for Jesus, this Holy Spirit's function will be all these things and will, in Jesus's own words 'teach all things and bring to remembrance all I.(Jesus) have said to you'. He continued, 'I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world (and that includes us) will NOT see me, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.' Therefore, Jesus' going away' means He is moving towards the cross and His Father, and YET leaving, through a wonderful promise, to the whole world, the coming Holy Spirit -for everyone. But where is that Holy Spirit today? Can we feel Him, see Him?

There is a pleasant little story of modern times, that tells of a seven year old child, wh9 asked, 'Mama, when is God going to send us a blanket?' "Why do you think God is going to send us a blanket?' the mother asked. 'Because', replied her little daughter, ' our Sunday School teacher said that God promised a COMFORTER when Jesus went back to heaven, and Jesus has been in heaven a long time'. How many of us are still awaiting a comforter to bring us peace and warmth in our confused and disappointing world?

In the time in which we are now living we hear a great deal about the Spirit as a PRIVATE GIFT, but we hear little about the gift of
the Spirit TO THE CHURCH, which is also important, especially it's emphasis in the New Testament. Indeed, it is the Spirit who makes Christ and His will known to the disciples of all ages.

So, we are not left with merely a history book, or a commentary, helpful as these may be, but with a living presence which is continually interpreting 'to us what the will of Christ is in any given situation, as happened at that supper with His disciples. THAT IS WHY, in this passage, Jesus used the statement, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' His going away to the Father, through the events of Good Friday was simply a prelude to His return to continue abiding with His people through His Spirit.

But it must be pointed out that this coming of Christ through the Spirit has an important PREcondition. The COMING is to the people, Jesus says, ' who love me and keep my commandments'. We are, therefore, to obey, which after all, is our Lord's description of what it means to love him, and is the DOOR through which the Spirit makes his entrance into our lives.

No matter how wonderfully we may render such lovely sacred songs as ·My Jesus, I love thee', it just will not do. There needs to be a style of life which is really serious about serving God, AND GOD ONLY.

We can't, of course, know exactly what happened to those early Christians to fill them with such a sense of faith and purpose.

But unusual events occur in much of our lives, too. Not everyone who experiences the power of God in Jesus in intense moments such as knowing forgiveness, receiving the gift of healing, or the gift of the love of God in family,. or in crises of any kind, has fully sensed the nearness of God; or will come to full faith; BUT those who DO will find God present - AT HOME in their lives, when they keep His commandments.

It is the Spirit, and nothing else, that brings Jesus to life in our lives as a living Word! Yet however real Jesus may be to us we are not free to say anything we choose about Him. We are enjoined to 'remember', and that does not mean 'invent'! Whatever the way in which we obey His commandments 'NOW' may be, they arise out of who Jesus was, and what He did THEN. The Spirit works in shaping. and moulding faithful people as they answer the challenges of being God's servants in new times and in different places. John also sees a connection between Spirit and Peace. In the midst of a situation fraught with danger; a situation that will make hearts troubled and afraid, Jesus offers peace; a peace that can in no way be affected by the world. But that peace would be little more than a cruel joke were it not for the promise of the Spirit who will bring both certainty and security to those who are serious about the purposes which he will help them to understand.

This gift of peace which Jesus leaves those who love Him is more than just being content. It is a wholeness known only to those who approach God with the same trusting faith that Jesus did.

A tall order?? But true nonetheless. For that trusting faith in God - the God who loves us - leaves no room for fear.
How do we think of it? A schoolgirl in an essay might say it for all of us: "The Armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918, and since then we have had two minutes silence every year' - and how right she is! That is all most of us think about it.

Not accidentally, the theme of 'peace' is tied to the gift of the ADVOCATE (Comforter, counsellor)~. Peace in this case means a right relationship with God, not tranquillity, so is completely different from the peace the world offers.

PEACE!! In this world which seems full of violence (nuclear bombs, riots, all kinds of troubles, we may wonder if there is anyone who will champion our cause today when the need arises. Everyone seems to be looking out for themselves, seeking their own welfare, and it may be we might feel isolated and alone. And amid all the upheaval of change - our faith appears more and more outdated - a thing of the past.

Who, then, ·can speak on our behalf? Lawyers, politicians, social workers, doctors, self-help therapists? None of them have the healing and empowering word we most need. BUT into our isolation there comes the Spirit who wells within us, and in our community of faith. That ADVOCATE (Counsellor) works differently.
By the Spirit we know our ROOTS - WHO WE ARE AND WHOSE WE ARE! The God who dwells in Christ NOW dwells in and among us as the Holy Spirit. By that Spirit we are taught and reminded of what God has done for us in Christ's cross and resurrection, and in that way He empowers us to love and faithfulness.

But Pentecost is, as already mentioned, about a MYSTERY - that special PEACE? - the ADVOCATE - A SPIRIT?? And most. of us are uncomfortable about mysteries, even the Agatha Christie kind, and we want to see them resolved. We want certainty, not mystery! So, the mysterious Advocate (Spirit) among us, and the violent wind and tongues of fire, and the strange speaking in a variety of languages - all of these can disturb our understanding.

But blowing amid the winds of change and turmoil, there is ANOTHER, mysterious wind (Greek 'pneuma' meaning both wind and spirit). THIS wind blows against isolation and destruction and it pushes us RIGHT INTO THE ARMS OF ONE WHO CARES (our Lord).

The wind of Pentecost blows through THIS place we call the church, bringing strength to the weak, and encouragement to the discouraged. Like the eye of a cyclone or tornado, the rush of a violent wind sucks us into the family of God where we call our Creator Abba Father. - Romans 8:l5.

In this family we find our REAL HOME, for here God and Christ, through the Spirit 'make their home with us'. (John 14:23). In this new home a family of brothers and sisters and children surround us - and, led by our Advocate, Counsellor, Comforter, all those dwelling in that house, are now become our advocates, counsellors, guides and helpers.

It all happens as a result of the mysterious presence, whom we can only know and understand, in faith.

'Love to the World' gives us the words 'come, Christ, however you will come" repeated from the hymnbook of New Zealand 'Aeortoroa Alleluia'.
We cannot know ahead of time how Christ will become present to us, or what will open our eyes to His presence. We can only hold onto the promise that, to those who trust, who love and follow the way of Jesus, God comes, through His Spirit.
AND THAT IS ALL WE NEED!!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exegetical Notes inspired by "Proclaim" commentary.

Back