Passover and Pentecost
Commentary
I encourage you to do some extensive work in an effort to understand something of the meaning of Pentecost. I suggest you read the discussions of Pentecost, Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as they are set out in The Interpreter's Dictionary of The Bible. Such a study will teach most of us not to speak so certainly about the history of Pentecost.
What is clear from this reading is Pentecost was traditionally the fiftieth day following the ceremony of the barley sheaf. (see Leviticus 23:9ff) It is also clear the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread were involved in the becoming of Pentecost which, by New Testament times, was firmly established in the Jewish liturgical calendar.
What matters to us is not that we unravel all the history and all the elements involved. Rather the focus of our attention is upon the reinterpretation of the Passover which, in the New Testament, becomes a sacred commemoration of God's redemption, set forth in sacrificial action and historically actualized in the death of Christ. And ...
The reinterpretation of Pentecost was the day when the newly-formed community of faith received validation and assurance that God was in their midst, as he had been in the midst of their ancestors.
Just as God had delivered their ancestors from Egypt's bondage, so he has now delivered his people from the bondage of sin.
Just as God's spirit had, in many ways, come to their ancestors, so now they were certain that same God was with them.
To be able to continue these great central rites with new meanings gave the early community of faith a sense of continuity with the past and certainty for the future.
Our continued participation in these commemorations declares that we accept those assurances for ourselves.
OUTLINE I
The Meaning of Babel
Genesis 11:1-9
Introduction: In all probability, you need to begin with some explanation of the nature of all the stories in Genesis 1-11. Of course, there are those who will insist it is all history. Don't get bogged down in that argument. Try to stick to the meaning and purpose of the story.
A. While stories like this, surely, were a long time developing and include all sorts of memories and editing over a long period of time, it is important for one to remember it is last edited as a part of the developing Pentateuch during the Babylonian Exile.
Now they can look back over the past centuries for some answer to the question why they suffered the Babylonian Exile.
The answer comes in this story. "Let us build a city ... and a tower and bring about a unity of spirit and an openness to understanding. Rather than being scattered over the face of the earth in confusion, they can go out as a sent people, sent to declare the good news of God's act in Jesus who is the Christ.
Conclusion: Offer to the congregation an explanation of the true miracle of the first Christian Pentecost: on that day, those who were gathered together in one spirit and purpose found God working mightily in their midst. Surely that can happen again and again among those who so gather.
OUTLINE II
The Reversal of Babel
Acts 2:1-21
Introduction: Which of us can read the story of Pentecost and not recall the story of Babel? On one day the language of the people is confused. On the other, the confusion is taken away. Babel is reversed.
A. Remember what caused the confusion in the first place. It is the contention of the writers that it was the sin of giantism --substituting one's own will for the will of God --which led to the confusion in the world. You can explain such an event anyway you want, but don't forget the meaning. Refer to the May 18 article for further information.
B. Now they are all together in one place and it is clear the focus of their attention is to discover and follow God's will. Babel can be reversed. The spirit can move in their midst I think this attitude and spirit of seeking to make life on their own can be corroborated by the story in 1 Samuel, telling of Israel's desire for a king. Read the story again in 1 Samuel 8. It is the Babel story in a historical setting. The Babel story is a short version of the history of Israel from 1100 B.C. to 500 B.C. They have turned to kings and denied God. Now is the time to get back to basics.
C. The shaping of Judaism and its literature in the Pentateuch is Israel's response to the realization that Babylon was God's judgment for their sin of giantism --following their own ways and forsaking his.
Conclusion: What about us? How many of us build our own towers of security and plan all the details of our life without concern for God's will? Perhaps, in our lives we, too, see the ends to which we bring ourselves. When we realize that, the opportunity for change and new life is offered. Offer the opportunity to all who hear.
OUTLINE III
Testing the Spirit!
John 14:8-17, 25-27
Introduction: When John writes, it is always good to listen on two levels. First, to remember he is seeking to tell us something of what happened while Jesus was here. Secondly, to offer a helpful word to the church of his own day.
A. Jesus' day: If one accepts John's record as representative of Jesus' words while he was here, then it is reasonable to conclude his promise was fulfilled on Pentecost.
B. If one remembers John is not just writing a diary or a historical record, but is bringing a message to his church of the early first century then it is important to understand there must have been some need which required addressing.
It has now been some eighty years since the resurrection and ascension. The expectation that Jesus would soon return is now shoved firmly to the back burner. See Acts 1. If he is not to return, then on what is the church to depend as a guide and teacher as it walks into the future?
C. John's answer in chapters 14-16 is the reassurance of the presence of Christ with them in the Holy Spirit, the Counselor who will teach, guide, convince, and be with them. This was a needed word for what is now a Greek church having too little knowledge of the Hebrew concept of the spirit. They need clues where to look and listen for his presence.
Conclusion: We live more distantly from the events than they did and we, too, need a certain word and a sure guide. The clues are the same for us as for them. And the key is the same. (see John 16:14) So the test is clear. Does what we hear square with what we know about Jesus? If so, then the Spirit speaks. If not, then it is appropriate to question.
What is clear from this reading is Pentecost was traditionally the fiftieth day following the ceremony of the barley sheaf. (see Leviticus 23:9ff) It is also clear the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread were involved in the becoming of Pentecost which, by New Testament times, was firmly established in the Jewish liturgical calendar.
What matters to us is not that we unravel all the history and all the elements involved. Rather the focus of our attention is upon the reinterpretation of the Passover which, in the New Testament, becomes a sacred commemoration of God's redemption, set forth in sacrificial action and historically actualized in the death of Christ. And ...
The reinterpretation of Pentecost was the day when the newly-formed community of faith received validation and assurance that God was in their midst, as he had been in the midst of their ancestors.
Just as God had delivered their ancestors from Egypt's bondage, so he has now delivered his people from the bondage of sin.
Just as God's spirit had, in many ways, come to their ancestors, so now they were certain that same God was with them.
To be able to continue these great central rites with new meanings gave the early community of faith a sense of continuity with the past and certainty for the future.
Our continued participation in these commemorations declares that we accept those assurances for ourselves.
OUTLINE I
The Meaning of Babel
Genesis 11:1-9
Introduction: In all probability, you need to begin with some explanation of the nature of all the stories in Genesis 1-11. Of course, there are those who will insist it is all history. Don't get bogged down in that argument. Try to stick to the meaning and purpose of the story.
A. While stories like this, surely, were a long time developing and include all sorts of memories and editing over a long period of time, it is important for one to remember it is last edited as a part of the developing Pentateuch during the Babylonian Exile.
Now they can look back over the past centuries for some answer to the question why they suffered the Babylonian Exile.
The answer comes in this story. "Let us build a city ... and a tower and bring about a unity of spirit and an openness to understanding. Rather than being scattered over the face of the earth in confusion, they can go out as a sent people, sent to declare the good news of God's act in Jesus who is the Christ.
Conclusion: Offer to the congregation an explanation of the true miracle of the first Christian Pentecost: on that day, those who were gathered together in one spirit and purpose found God working mightily in their midst. Surely that can happen again and again among those who so gather.
OUTLINE II
The Reversal of Babel
Acts 2:1-21
Introduction: Which of us can read the story of Pentecost and not recall the story of Babel? On one day the language of the people is confused. On the other, the confusion is taken away. Babel is reversed.
A. Remember what caused the confusion in the first place. It is the contention of the writers that it was the sin of giantism --substituting one's own will for the will of God --which led to the confusion in the world. You can explain such an event anyway you want, but don't forget the meaning. Refer to the May 18 article for further information.
B. Now they are all together in one place and it is clear the focus of their attention is to discover and follow God's will. Babel can be reversed. The spirit can move in their midst I think this attitude and spirit of seeking to make life on their own can be corroborated by the story in 1 Samuel, telling of Israel's desire for a king. Read the story again in 1 Samuel 8. It is the Babel story in a historical setting. The Babel story is a short version of the history of Israel from 1100 B.C. to 500 B.C. They have turned to kings and denied God. Now is the time to get back to basics.
C. The shaping of Judaism and its literature in the Pentateuch is Israel's response to the realization that Babylon was God's judgment for their sin of giantism --following their own ways and forsaking his.
Conclusion: What about us? How many of us build our own towers of security and plan all the details of our life without concern for God's will? Perhaps, in our lives we, too, see the ends to which we bring ourselves. When we realize that, the opportunity for change and new life is offered. Offer the opportunity to all who hear.
OUTLINE III
Testing the Spirit!
John 14:8-17, 25-27
Introduction: When John writes, it is always good to listen on two levels. First, to remember he is seeking to tell us something of what happened while Jesus was here. Secondly, to offer a helpful word to the church of his own day.
A. Jesus' day: If one accepts John's record as representative of Jesus' words while he was here, then it is reasonable to conclude his promise was fulfilled on Pentecost.
B. If one remembers John is not just writing a diary or a historical record, but is bringing a message to his church of the early first century then it is important to understand there must have been some need which required addressing.
It has now been some eighty years since the resurrection and ascension. The expectation that Jesus would soon return is now shoved firmly to the back burner. See Acts 1. If he is not to return, then on what is the church to depend as a guide and teacher as it walks into the future?
C. John's answer in chapters 14-16 is the reassurance of the presence of Christ with them in the Holy Spirit, the Counselor who will teach, guide, convince, and be with them. This was a needed word for what is now a Greek church having too little knowledge of the Hebrew concept of the spirit. They need clues where to look and listen for his presence.
Conclusion: We live more distantly from the events than they did and we, too, need a certain word and a sure guide. The clues are the same for us as for them. And the key is the same. (see John 16:14) So the test is clear. Does what we hear square with what we know about Jesus? If so, then the Spirit speaks. If not, then it is appropriate to question.
