Mary Magdalene appears before the empty tomb at dawn and sees Jesus…Peter and the beloved disciple race to see that the tomb is empty…Thomas demands to see Jesus after missing his appearance before the other disciples…Two men walk to Emmaus, leaving behind hope. They encounter Jesus on the journey and return to Jerusalem with joy, hope, and good news!
So, what’s next?
Share the Good News! People with like minds, life-giving experiences, transformed hearts, and lives filled with unspeakable and unstoppable joy gather together in one place on the day of Pentecost:
2 …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. (Acts 2:2-4)
Peter preaches his first sermon, summarizing the most recent events, Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension. Peter concludes his speech:
32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you see and hear…36 “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:32-34, 36)
“What should we do?” those present asked.
41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
The church of followers of The Way was forming, and life, as known, would never be the same. Grief and loss, fear and doubt, disappointment, helplessness, hopelessness, the strong desire to see Jesus, a new kind of joy revealed in a peace experienced like no other, gathered to worship and praise.
What moments of grief and loss have brought you to your knees in prayer, worship, and praise? What moments of fear and doubt have increased your faith? What gifts of hope have stemmed from disappointment? In what ways have you seen Jesus in your life and the life of others? In what ways has stillness and peace brought you an uncontrollable kind of joy?
What’s next? We gather together to celebrate the promise of the Holy Spirit, testify to the incomparable works of grace and transformative love of Jesus the Risen Christ within us, and preach the Good News of God’s Kingdom here and now to all we encounter, study Scripture, learn together, fellowship, break bread, pray together, and share our stories!
(Save the date! May 28th is Pentecost Sunday. Wear something red!)
In Christ,
Pastor Iraida