WATCHWORD:
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4
Meditation:
I Believe in Jesus Christ…
We can’t transport ourselves back to first Century Judea and enter the temple in Jerusalem at the moment of Pentecost. But it must have been an amazing event; the sudden rush of wind, the tongues of fire, the babble of multiple languages and all that were present understood what was said.
For the disciples, it was a moment of realization. Yes, they had followed the Master these many years, had witnessed miracles, healings and teachings, but this was something else. Fifty days prior, the Resurrection had occurred before their very eyes, and then their master met with them. Can you imagine? This truly was the long-promised Messiah.
But who would believe it happened? Certainly, not the Sadducees, or the Pharisees. There had been too much anger and negative thought towards this Carpenter-teacher-miracle worker. So, who would believe His story, despite witnesses?
Perhaps all of that served as motivation, as the Twelve filed out of the temple and gathered to digest and understand what had happened to them. Was that really the Breath of God? How do we process this? How do we go and ‘make disciples’? How do we keep this fresh in mind? And so they committed themselves, one to the other, a promise, a commitment to their Master and to the Creator God, A Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
God’s only Son, our Lord.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
What sets Christianity apart from Hindus, Muslims, and Jews, is its specific beliefs about Jesus. These other religions give Jesus prominent place as a prophet, an important teacher, or a religious reformer. Even among atheists there is general agreement that Jesus was, as atheist Richard Dawkins says, a “great moral teacher.” Of course, Christians believe that Jesus was indeed a prophet, religious reformer, and a great moral teacher, but our faith says he was far more.
So, within the Creed, we are reminded who Jesus is, His birth through the Holy Spirit, His death and Resurrection, His presence with God, and His role as judge in our lives. When the Creed says that Jesus “descended into hell, or to the dead” the idea is that Jesus experienced what we experience when we die. But, there is more to this. In the Resurrection, we have the image of Jesus defeating death, and we have the promise.
In the Resurrection, we have proof of changed lives. Here were the disciples, the majority being simple men, like the common fishermen that many were. Yet, following Pentecost, what amazing lives they lived spreading Christianity.
Twelve years ago, I was invited to attend the Passover Seder at Temple Lubavitch in Little Rock Arkansas. During that sacred experience I was told that Passover was the Jewish people’s defining story. Over the course of the evening, through the elements of the Seder, the Passover story enfolded, one piece at a time, in beautiful and, I would add, delicious graphic clarity. It was truly a reverent experience. For the Jew, living is its own meaning. When you die, you are transformed from a being to a non-being.
The story of Jesus is Christianity’s defining story, encapsulated in the Creed. Faith in Jesus offers a very different perspective. from Judaism. We are born with purpose, our lives have meaning, and when we die, we’ve only just begun to live. Think about that and praise the Lord. Amen.
Closing Prayer:
Almighty God, You have made Yourself known to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Make Yourself known to us in such away that we may understand Your will and purpose for our lives today. We offer our prayers in the Name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
