John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15
Come, Holy Spirit
The Day of Pentecost B
May 24, 2015
Isn’t it strange that Jesus says, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for it I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.” How can He say such a thing, that it is for our good that He goes away from us? We know He is talking about His ascension and Pentecost, but it is still strange to hear to our ears. And yet, the Holy Spirit could not begin His work of applying Christ’s redemption until Jesus has accomplished His work on earth.
Consider the Apostles. After Jesus’ ascension, they rejoiced and returned to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit. They waited, as the Church always does, in prayer. And wonder of wonders, their fears and timidity are conquered by the resurrected Jesus and His promises to them. They were changed, embolded by the Holy Spirit for this purpose: to preach! We hear today of how St. Peter was inspired to preach the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and he was bold in his office. Why? Because the Holy Spirit delivered the truth to him, and used him to bear witness about Jesus. And miracles abound, people believed in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Here is the beginning of the end. The flames of the living Spirit upon the apostles signal the fulfillment of the Prophet Joel’s word: “In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:17). This is the grand miracle of Pentecost – The Spirit of the Lord declares the truth, taking what belongs to Jesus and delivering it to the Church. Among what belongs to Jesus is His resurrected life and His victory over sin, sinners, death, Satan, and hell, all celebrated in the Easter feast. Until the Day of the resurrected Lord, God’s Church is not left alone. The Lord pours out the Easter gift: the resurrection Spirit fills the lives of the apostles.
Today is often called the birthday of the Church. And so it is. Because the Spirit gives birth to the Church by giving people the life of Christ, the life that has overcome death, the life eternal. In the anointing of the Spirit there is the life of the resurrected Jesus. God places His Spirit within His apostolic church on the day of Pentecost delivering the life of Christ, receiving by faith. Because Christ lives, the church lives (Ez 37:14), “an exceedingly great army” of dry bones brought to life (Ez 37:10).
But there’s more. The Lord is risen and ascended. This same witness, this same boldness, this same Spirit working through the preached Word to bring dead sinners to life, delivers the truth of Christ, and call, gather, and enlighten the whole Christian Church on earth still happens! In the waters of Holy Baptism, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit to you. He speaks in His Word, and you hear His voice, for the Spirit still bears witness concerning the Son. And this He has done, even warning you of the persecutions and trials and temptations that you will face. Through this life, His Spirit will guide you into all the truth, to the glory of the Father.
This is the Spirit’s main job, His purpose, His goal-to deliver Jesus, to bring people to Jesus, and to keep people with Jesus. He brings us to Jesus, guides us into all truth, glorifies Jesus by declaring Jesus’ words to the world. Sometimes we Lutherans are challenged about ignoring the Holy Spirit. We don’t talk about Him much, we don’t pray in the Holy Spirit’s name. Why? Because the Spirit doesn’t want the limelight, He doesn’t want the attention. What He wants is to bring Jesus to you, and to bring you to Jesus.He doesn’t speak on His own, but God the Holy Spirit speaks on behalf of the God the Father and God the Son. Through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit convicts people of the truth of their sin so that they will no longer be a part of the world but one with Christ, sanctified in the truth of His Word. The Spirit takes what is Jesus’ and delivers the goods.
And this is why it is to our advantage that Christ ascends into heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. God has not abandoned humanity on earth to muddle our way through life. Abandonment is one of the great fears that we all share. We dread losing our family and our friends. We are terrified of being left alone in this life with no one to talk to, no one to share with, no one to care. We cling to our relationships, as healthy or unhealthy as they might be.
Today, we are reminded that God clings to us because of His Son through the power of His Spirit. God is not content is remain in heaven, separate from His creation. He comes, and He comes to you. When you are tempted beyond resistance. When you have fallen into sin and can’t get up. By the power of His Holy Spirit, and for the sake of Christ, through Word, water, bread and wine, God comes and brings you forgiveness. He lifts tired and weary bones up out of the dirt to stand on the solid foundation of Jesus’ death and resurrection. So that you shall live, and you shall know that the Lord is God. God the Father has spoken it. God the Son has done it. And God the Holy Spirit delivers it. So come, Holy Spirit, creator blest, and make our hearts Your places of rest. Amen.