Liberating Spirit
6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." (Acts 2:6-8)
The Jewish festival of Pentecost - celebrated fifty days after Passover - commemorated God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt. As the disciples were gathered to celebrate Pentecost together, a loud wind swept through, depositing what appeared as licks of fire on each person. All of them - men and women - were filled with the Holy Spirit and were able to speak in other languages. This occurrence was so disruptive that thousands of people were drawn stand and listen.
Initially the crowd understood the wondrous works of God that were being proclaimed. But as some began to question exactly what spirit was empowering the disciples, Peter explained the prophecies of Joel and King David. He then connected these scriptures, which would have been familiar to the crowd, to Jesus and the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:14-41).
From Genesis to Revelation the bible proclaims God's desire and God's work to liberate all people from oppression and sin. As God's people, empowered by God's Holy Spirit, we must be about God's liberating work. Celebrating Pentecost may be less about the various languages that were spoken and more about the barriers that were broken down, the pathways that were created so more people could be free. Everyone wants and deserves to be free - free from poverty, racism, sexism, classism, and all of the devises of sin that have bound and oppressed people and planet. Filled with God's Spirit and moved by that Spirit, we are the continuation of Jesus mission, as he quoted from the prophet Isaiah:
17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21)
May the scripture continue to be fulfilled in and through us.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-15)
For deeper study, check out Let The Oppressed Go Free: Exploring Theologies of Liberation by Marvin A. McMickle
