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Leaning into the Mystery
By Pastor Jody
The disciples were once again gathered in a room. But this time they were not hiding. They were doing exactly what Jesus had told them to do, they were waiting.Jesus told them to stay put in Jerusalem. He told them to wait.
Wait for the Spirit to come upon you and THEN....then Jesus told them you will go and be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Jesus said you will be my witness, you will tell them all about me and show them who I am in Jerusalem, here at home, in this town and Judea, all among your own countrymen and in Samaria, among your enemies and to the end so the earth, to all creation.
That is what you are going to do.....then he disappeared, lifted up into heaven. And so the disciples were doing what Jesus told them to, they are waiting, anxiously, Waiting for something not quite sure knowing what.
Jerusalem was overly crowded, teaming with pilgrims, Jews from all over the place who had come to observe Shavuot- Pentecost in Greek. A festival that takes place on the 50th day after passover. It is a festival to commemorate the giving of the Mosaic law, the Torah.
Acts 2 begins:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Imagine the scene: strangers, friends, travelers, locals, filling the streets of the city when suddenly this one particular house is overflowing with noise and light and people talking. Talking and talking and every word they said was understood by every person present.
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