God’s Power Unleashed

God’s Power Unleashed

June 5, 2022 ……….. Pentecost Sunday ……….Rev. Patrick Mecham

Acts 2: 1-21; John 14: 8-17, 25-27

The toddler was calling out from the bedroom, “Mommy!  Where my socks?”  The mother patiently directed her toddler, “Right there, on the end of your bed.”  “Where?!”  “I put them right at the foot of your bed.”  “I don’ see dem!”  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, I’ll come and show you where they are!”  “Oh.  I didn’ see dem.”

Have you ever experienced the frustration of trying to show someone something that you can clearly see, but they JUST CAN’T SEE IT?  This doesn’t only happen to the parents of preschoolers!  For instance, you see a distinct shape in the clouds, but when you try to point it out—others can’t make it out.  Or you are trying to explain a mathematical solution to a problem, but the person just can’t see it.  Or, you see the obvious direction to go, but the person driving can’t get it at all.  You want to shout, “It’s as plain as the nose on your face!”

This ever happen to you?  Well, you’re in good company.  Jesus often experienced this frustration with the people who came out to hear him.  Even his own disciples often seemed “dumber than a bag of hammers” when it came to many of the things Jesus was trying to explain to them.

And, again, on the day of Pentecost, when God’s Spirit was moving through the Disciples, people who did not understand what was going on simply sneered and made fun of them.

I have said before that you and I ought to be grateful that the Disciples were so dense—that they had to have things explained in depth and repeatedly.  That way, 2000 years later, we can still have the opportunity to understand by hearing and studying the Scriptures.  Let’s see how our texts for today help us to understand what Jesus was trying to communicate.

See Me, See the Father

In our Gospel text, Philip made a request, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”  Jesus sounds a little exasperated in his response, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?  Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

Now, Friends, truth be told, I would very much like to see Jesus with my own eyes and be better able to understand his teachings—and grow in my faith.  But Jesus explained to Philip that, if he didn’t believe the words of Jesus, he should still believe because of his works.  (To paraphrase, “If you do not believe what I say, at least believe what I do.”)

When John the Baptizer was languishing in Herod’s dungeon, he grew impatient waiting for Jesus to fulfill his destiny.  He sent messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the One who is to come, or shall we wait for another?”  Jesus told them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”  (ie, Believe in me because of my works.)

I once read a story about a husband and wife who fought much of the time.  Through some friends, the wife got interested in Jesus and became a Christian.  However, she was unable to get her husband interested in attending church with her—no matter what she said.  Finally, she asked him, “Have you seen any changes in me since I became a Christian?”  Well, he had to admit that she was not quarrelsome anymore, and that she seemed to pay a lot more attention to his well-being.  In the end, her actions spoke more loudly than her words, and he was no longer able to find a reason not to follow Jesus himself.

Jesus explained that “the world” cannot see him for who he is.  It cannot receive the Spirit, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  (When I am “worldly,” there is no place in my materialist thinking for God’s Spirit.)  Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  Jesus even had trouble getting Nicodemus to understand some things, and he was a Teacher of Israel!

I like the way Max Lucado explains it: “The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives, carrying on the work of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit helps us in three directions: 1. Inwardly (by granting us the fruits of the Spirit); 2. Upwardly (by praying for us); and 3. Outwardly (by pouring God’s love [for others] into our hearts).”

Enthusiasm

There is a word in our vocabulary that I really enjoy.  The word is “enthusiasm.” The ancient Greeks used to believe that some people were inhabited by the gods, and their word for this was enthusiasm!  On the Day of Pentecost, we say that the Disciples/Apostles were filled with God’s Spirit.  In their enthusiasm, they were speaking other languages so that people from other lands would understand.  They were speaking about God’s deeds of power.  But did you notice?  Some of those who were there SNEERED at them!  You’ve noticed, I’m sure, that some folks cannot see what God is doing right in front of their eyes.  They sneered, and said, “They are filled with new wine.”  But remember: the Disciples had heard Jesus say, “This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.”

Yes, people sneer at what they don’t understand.  But the good news is that they can be taught (if they are willing).  Peter knew this all too well, having been corrected numerous times!

He corrected the people and explained that they were NOT drunk.  Then he helped them connect with this phenomenon by pointing to something they were already familiar with—the Prophet, Joel.  He reminded them of the promise of God: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.”

Anyone with ears to hear understood; and the church grew by about 3,000 members that day!

Greater Works than These

In our Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples that believers in him will do the works that he does; will do greater works than these, because he is going to the Father.  And, afterwards, the Father will send another Advocate to be with them forever.  This Advocate, or Helper, will teach them everything and remind them of everything he had said to them.

The Holy Spirit is God’s presence among us.

William Barclay has an interesting perspective on this saying.  He writes, “ln the days of his flesh he (Jesus) was limited to Palestine; when he had died and risen again, he was liberated from these limitations and his Spirit could work mightily anywhere.”  And, when you look at the history of the spread of the church, you see an amazing multiplying, a dynamic movement of the Good News in every direction at once!

In a very real sense, his words have become true.  His promise (that we would do greater works than his) is realized in the scope of God’s love spreading like wildfire!  I used to be disappointed that we don’t often see miraculous healings and “amazing works.”  But, now I have eyes to see!  When diseases are cured, when the hungry are fed, and when creative people develop amazing art and music and inventions, I see God’s amazing works!  When God uses us to bring healing to the afflicted, hope to the hopeless, strength to the weary, courage to the fearful—the glory of God is displayed!

I’ll finish today with this question: Do we understand how all this works?  No, of course not.  But I love what Sam Shoemaker advised those who did not yet understand.  He said, “Give as much of yourself as you can to as much of God as you can understand.”  When we do this, God will take care of the rest.  Just be prepared for some folks to simply not understand—maybe even sneer at you.  It’s ok—God is still working with them, too!