A Look Ahead to Sunday’s Worship – The Day of Pentecost This coming Sunday, the Church rejoices in one of her great feast days: The Day of Pentecost. Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate not only a moment in history, but an ongoing reality—the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ pouring out His Holy Spirit upon His Church.
The readings appointed for this day—Numbers 11:24–30, Acts 2:1–21, and John 7:37–39—draw us into the heart of this divine gift. They reveal that Pentecost is not merely about dramatic signs like wind and fire, but about Christ giving His Spirit so that His saving work might be proclaimed, believed, and received.
The Spirit Given: From Moses to the Apostles
Our Old Testament reading from Numbers 11 gives us a glimpse of how God equips His people for their life together. The Lord takes “some of the Spirit” that rested on Moses and places it upon the seventy elders. Immediately, they begin to prophesy.
Even two men—Eldad and Medad—who remained in the camp receive the Spirit and prophesy there. When Joshua objects, Moses responds with a remarkable longing:
“Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!”
That longing finds its fulfillment in Pentecost.
In Acts 2, the Spirit is not limited to a few leaders. Instead, the risen Christ pours out His Spirit upon the apostles, accompanied by “a sound like a mighty rushing wind” and “tongues as of fire.” They speak in various languages, declaring the mighty works of God so that people from many nations can hear and understand.
What Moses desired is now reality: the Spirit is given generously, not sparingly. The proclamation of God’s saving work is no longer confined—but goes forth to all nations.
The Spirit Proclaims Christ Crucified and Risen
Pentecost is often remembered for its dramatic signs, but the heart of the day lies in the message proclaimed. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles speak of “the mighty works of God.”
And what are those mighty works?
They are the saving deeds of Jesus Christ:
- His suffering and death for sinners
- His victorious resurrection from the grave
- His exaltation as Lord and Messiah
The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself apart from Christ. Rather, He glorifies Jesus. He leads people to repentance and faith, just as Peter declares:
“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This is the Spirit’s work still today. Wherever the Gospel is preached—clearly and faithfully—the Spirit is at work bringing people to faith, sustaining them in hope, and comforting them with the promises of Christ.
Rivers of Living Water
In our Gospel from John 7, Jesus stands and makes a bold invitation:
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
He speaks of a deep, spiritual thirst—the longing for forgiveness, life, and peace with God. And He promises that those who believe in Him will receive something extraordinary:
“Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
John tells us plainly that Jesus is speaking about the Holy Spirit.
Here is the beautiful connection to Pentecost: the Spirit is not an abstract force or distant power. He is the living water flowing from the crucified and risen Christ. Just as water gives life to what is dry and dying, so the Spirit gives life to sinners through the forgiveness of sins.
And note this: the flow does not stop with us. Those who receive the Spirit become, in a sense, channels of that life—confessing Christ, serving their neighbors, and bearing witness to the hope within them.
The Spirit at Work Among Us
It can be tempting to think of Pentecost as something distant—an event long ago, filled with extraordinary signs that we do not see today. But the truth is far more comforting.
The same Spirit is at work right here and now.
- When the Scriptures are read and preached, the Spirit is speaking.
- When sins are forgiven in Christ’s name, the Spirit is giving life.
- When Baptism joins someone to Christ, the Spirit is at work.
- When we hear the Gospel in words we understand—“in our own tongue”—the Spirit is doing exactly what He did on Pentecost.
The miracle continues in quiet, powerful ways as Christ is proclaimed and His gifts are received.
Come and Drink
As we gather for worship this Pentecost, we come not to recreate an ancient event, but to receive a present gift.
The risen Lord Jesus still pours out His Spirit.
He still invites the thirsty.
He still sends forth His Word.
And His promise stands:
“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Come, then—hear, receive, rejoice. The Spirit has been given, and Christ is for you.
In Christ,
Your Under Shepherd