AfterWords: “What Does This Mean?”

 

Acts 2:1-21

Every year we celebrate, we remember, Pentecost Sunday. And we should! This was the beginning of something entirely new that God was doing in the world, something that Jesus proclaimed and promised: The coming of God’s Spirit to us.

On that first Pentecost Sunday as recorded in Acts 2, we find two responses to this event—this appearance of “something like tongues of fire” and everyone “hearing their own language.” The fiery tongues go largely unnoticed, but that language thing? THAT was noticed. One response was, “They’re drunk!” Well, that’s an interesting response…but not without its merit. In 2017, Time magazine published an article, “Alcohol Helps You Speak a Foreign Language Better,” but Peter assures folks it’s way too early for that. The second response is where we want to go: “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12). Rather than wrestling with the details that may explain what happened, like those early observers/participants, we want to dive into the meaning—what does Pentecost mean?

What does this mean? When we see the people from across the Mediterranean world assembled in this scene, we realize that Pentecost means there is no room in God’s Church, in God’s family, for racism, culturalism, nationalism, or any other -ism that serves to divide or separate people. While the Church has often dropped the ball on this (see the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 60’s), Pentecost means that all people and all peoples are welcome.

What does this mean? When Jesus was still with the disciples, he promised them the Holy Spirit who would “help you and be with you forever” (Jn 14:17). After the resurrection, Jesus told his followers they would receive the Spirit. In Acts, just before Pentecost, Jesus tells them to remain in Jerusalem to await the Spirit. And then the Spirit falls…and God’s presence is now forever with us to help us and be with us. This means we are never alone—in the very best sense. When we as congregation engage in ministry, God is with us. When we feed the hungry, build ramps, cook for the homeless, meet for Sunday School, gather for Bible study, God is with us. When we are “alone” in our homes, riding in our cars, walking in the morning, God is with us. Pentecost extends the reality that Jesus began: Immanuel—God with us.

What does this mean? Peter’s sermon begins with a quotation from the prophet Joel about men and women, young and old, slave and free…all of them speaking God’s word, God’s will. Pentecost means that God longs to use everyone in ministry. No one is excluded—all who are willing are included in God’s mission to the world.

Pentecost—this is God’s GREAT news for us: All are welcome; we are never alone; God longs for us to join in the mission to the world.

Sunday, June 8, 2025
“What Does This Mean?”
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