Pentecost: The Day Jesus Left the Building And Christianity Became Personal
The sixteenth chapter of John records Jesus telling His disciples that He was leaving and that they would be better off after He was gone because the spirit would come. They, of course, could not believe that they could exist without His physical presence much less be better off. In fact, they had not developed very far while He was here. They were still convinced He was going to build a kingdom here on earth and they were jockeying for positions and arguing over who got to sit on His right hand. Faith by sight makes very few changes in lives, nor does it go very deep. If they had doubts all they needed was to attend the next miracle. If they were afraid, they could remember how He calmed the storm. Hungry? well He feed thousands with two fish and some bread. They followed what they saw with their eyes and heard with their ears, but He knew that faith only becomes real and life changing when it internalizes and changes how we think and feel.
He told then that the Holy Spirit would come and convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement to come. Then He expanded that statement away from fear and guilt. He said of sin because they do not believe or follow me.
Of righteousness because I go to the Father and you see me no more. Of Judgement to come because the prince of this world is judged.
He seemed to be saying that the Holy spirit will speak to us about our need to be followers of Jesus. He is not here to talk about our “sins” He is here to talk to us about our needs, and our first need is a personal relationship with Jesus.
He will show us the meaning of righteousness as taught and lived in the life of Jesus.
And He will remind us that we are stewards and each of us will one day give an account of our stewardship.
This concept is what Jesus taught and tried to get the ones He touched to understand. To Nicodemus who came to Him with everything one can find externally, Jesus told him he needed a birth from within and explained it as being like the wind which could be felt and experienced but not seen.
To the woman at the well, He spoke of water to be taken inside so she would never thirst again.
She countered by saying her history said they should worship in some mountain. In our terms she was asking where she should go to church. Jesus said, “God is a spirit and those who worship Him must do so in sprit and in truth. It happens within us.
The transition He was talking about happened at Pentecost and unfortunately the day got gobbled up by speaking in tongues, and the church has spent most of its energy playing down the idea of lay people being individually directed by God. God seems to only speak to Popes, Clergy, and a few “anointed” people who then are to tell the rest of us what God wants us to know and do. There is very little emphasis on God speaking to the individual inside of their hearts and then helping them follow that leadership. This idea scares the church because it means they can’t structure and control what people discover for themselves and, as I have heard clergy say, “Why there is no telling what they might come up with or what doctrines they might believe. what if they come up with something weird?” Like the way it is done now has not “come up” with any weird ideas about the faith?
All of this does not mean that Bible study, listening to messages, rituals, hymns, and ceremonies are not also part of the plan of God for His people. It just means these things were never meant to take the place of the Holy Spirit within us.
If a speaker stood on a stage alongside a very famous and universal loved person who the audience came to listen to, hear about and be inspired by their lives, the speaker could tell every possible known detail about the person, show videos and power point presentations have personal testimonies until every facet of the person has been presented, but when the meeting adjourned no one in the audience would really know the person. They would have a collection of facts about the person but until they are able to be with the person one on one, touch and be touched personally they only have facts they believe.
Historically the church has tried to introduce Jesus from pulpits and ceremonies with very little emphasis on individual going into the closet and learning how to communicate one on one with a friend named Jesus. Too many folks have a handful of facts or beliefs about Him but have never known how to form a personal friendship.
The church has become a nation of sheep who believe what they are told to believe and end up with a package of truths they have simply accepted with no personal search or struggle to find their own connection with God through His spirit.
I do not know how anyone else should communicate, I only know how it seems to work for me. In John 15:15 Jesus said He wanted to call us friends so during my time of meditation I talk to Him like a personal friend. I try to be honest. I talk about my doubts and fears. I express my gratitude for His presence in my life. The only thing I pray for is wisdom or insight. James says “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth liberally.” That text has been the source of my strength and any success I have ever been blessed with. If I am writing, I ask for insight. Before every counseling session I ask for insight. God does not speak to me verbally and it would scare me if He did, but somehow ideas come, and guidance happens. I am constantly amazed at some of the insights that seem to come from no known source, and I honestly believe that is my friend’s guidance.
I am not well educated nor well read. A person introduced me once by saying he thought I have written more books than I have read. My whole life is a gift from a very warm and loving friend. That friendship happens inside out not outside in. He left the building so He could live inside of us. Christ in us is the hope of glory.