THE HEART OF PENTECOST

WHEN you think of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and wish to understand the blessing which came then, where would you turn in the Bible for enlightenment? No doubt to Acts 2, but this is not the only place to read, nor perhaps is it the best. Acts 2 describes the events which took place on that momentous day, and we are shown some outward manifestation of the Spirit's coming which are thrilling, but they don't reveal the heart of Pentecost.

A better passage to go to is John 16:5-15 where Jesus opens up to his disciples, before his passion, what would be the blessed result of his sending the Holy Spirit.

It is remarkable the contrast between the condition of the disciples described by Jesus in verse 5, and what Jesus says their condition will be after Pentecost. What Jesus is describing in verse 5 is what we continually see of the disciples, as they were, when Jesus was with them on earth before his death and resurrection. They enjoyed the comfort of his physical presence. They knew him as a human friend. They enjoyed great expressions of his power. They sat under his teaching. They delighted in the sight of much miraculous power and healing. They were given even ability to cast out devils and perform miracles. But they did not really know Jesus or the joy of his salvation.

When Jesus says here that he is going away, he discerns the natural human sorrow in the disciples hearts, caused by parting and bereavement, but that was all. They did not understand, even though Jesus had often told them, who he really was, what he came into the world to do, what blessings he came to bring, and the intimacy with God he came to restore.

When Jesus said he was come to give his life a ransom for many, they did not really know what he meant. When Jesus told them the Son of Man must suffer and die and rise again the third day, it was beyond their comprehension. When he said that he and the Father were one, the implication evaded them. When he spoke of mansions he was to prepare for them in heaven, they were little more than lovely stories. No wonder Jesus said it was better for him to ascend into glory so that he could send the Holy Spirit into the world, that they and all believers may have Eden restored.

This is what Jesus describes as the heart of the blessing of Pentecost in John 16:5-15. Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day. This was the great joy of paradise, intimacy with God, to commune with God, and to bask in his love and favour. Isn't this just what Jesus says the Spirit will bring in these verses in John as he describes the revelation of redemption the Spirit will give, and the intimacy with Jesus the Spirit will bring about?.

Isn't this the heart of Pentecost, far beyond the gifts of the Spirit, and much more blessed and joyous?

When Jesus sends the Spirit into the world he comes to the believer with a threefold conviction to the soul, v.8-11. As far as the believer is concerned, as opposed to the general conviction of the Spirit in the world, this threefold conviction is the gateway to the appreciation and understanding of the secure and complete redemption Jesus won for us.

The conviction in regard to the sin concerning lack of faith in Jesus, is in our experience an overwhelming sense of the evil of rejecting the Saviour, and of how much we need him. It is the seeing of the magnitude of our debt to God for falling short of his glory. It is the seeing the magnitude of God's love in the provision of his one and only Son to bear our guilt in his body on the cross. It brings us from unbelief to faith. To faith which reaches out to the Saviour and believes in his name. It brings us to know in our heart that our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled to God.

The conviction in regard to righteousness because Christ was ascending to the Father, is the wonderful revelation of the ascension. We see God testifying, by welcoming Jesus back into heaven, that Jesus has fully completed his work to save us; that Jesus has provided an everlasting righteousness for his people that meets all the demands of a righteous and holy God. It is a revelation that Jesus provides us with this righteousness and that being clothed in it, we are accounted righteous before God forever.

The conviction in regard to judgement because Satan is now condemned, is that glorious assurance that Satan has been judged and condemned. That Satan has no more claim upon us, because our Saviour has paid all the debt for sin. That Jesus has made us free forever from Satan's dominion.

But this is not all the blessing of Pentecost. When the Spirit of truth will come he will guide you into all truth, v.13-16. Verse 16 expresses the glorious sum of this blessing. We see Jesus and enjoy intimate communion with him. This is greater than the outward physical presence of Jesus the disciples knew before Pentecost. The Spirit of truth brings us to understanding and knowledge of Jesus spiritually and within. The disciples never knew this experience before the Holy Spirit guided them into all truth. It gave them the ability to write the New Testament, and it gives us the ability to read the whole Bible and enter into its true spiritual meaning. The experience is of communion with Jesus because the Spirit relays the conversation of Jesus. The reality is the company of Jesus comparable to the walking with God in Eden. We are led to behold the glory of the Saviour and appreciate his love and grace more deeply. It is a foretaste of heaven.

This is the privilege of all believers. Thus we are enabled to become more intimate with Jesus, as through the Spirit we seek him in his word, in prayer, and in all the means of grace. By all means let us seek the gifts of the Spirit in order to serve the church, but let us seek this gift of Pentecost even more. If we do, not only will our joy be full, but we shall more and more radiate the likeness of Jesus.