May 2007
Pentecost – the Curse Reversed!!
The term "Pentecost" comes from the Greek word pentekostos, meaning
fiftieth. Fifty days after Passover the Jews celebrated the "Feast of
Weeks" (Leviticus 23:15–21). Since about the second century, Christians
have celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit fifty days after the death
and resurrection of Jesus, on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, and with
the descent of the Holy Spirit we also celebrate the “reverse of the
curse” and the birth of the church.
In the book of Acts the writer explains that a multitude of faithful
Jews had gathered for the festival in an upper room. While there, the
Holy Spirit descended on them and all spoke in different languages, but
understood one another!! Onlookers supposed them to be drunk, and Peter
rebuts this with an awe-inspiring sermon that results in the instant
conversion of thousands. Read Acts chapter 2 for the full story.
Pentecost and the birth of the new diverse-but-united community of
believers reverses the curse of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). In
the beginning of our Bible, language divided humanity and created
confusion and hostility. At the end of the Bible in the book of
Revelation the new community that was born at Pentecost finishes
spectacularly in "a great multitude that no one could count, from every
nation, tribe, people, and language" (Revelation 7:9). In that heavenly
vision, all people will come together from diverse regions, tribes, and
countries and will complete the unity of humanity rather than divide it!
What role does language play in your life? Does your speech change in
tone when you address your friends rather than your family? Does your
speech tend to unify and reconcile, or does it highlight differences?
What kind of energy does it carry – kind, authoritative, submissive,
bold, shy? Does your language make a difference at home, work, church,
out in the community? What kind of difference?
The writer of Luke brings home his point about the awesome power of
language - it unites or divides. God has given us the power of the word,
and we can use it as a tool or a weapon – a healing salve or a wounding
blade. We choose how language will affect God’s world each time we use
it. May language be for you “the curse reversed,” and bring unity,
healing, and encouragement to you and through you wherever you are.
Many
blessings,
Melissa
